The Kremlin agrees with Fico: Zelensky is allegedly blackmailing Orbán

Moscow agrees with Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to blackmail Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán by delaying the resumption of operations on the Druzhba oil pipeline.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Russian oil supplies to Eastern Europe, which pass through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline, had been suspended since January 27 due to the Russian attack.

After Sunday's meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Bratislava, Fico said that gas and oil supplies were also discussed, particularly in connection with the REPowerEU plan. He reiterated that, in his opinion, Slovakia is moving "from the beginning of the pipeline to its end" and is looking for alternatives.

According to the prime minister, the Druzhba oil pipeline has already been repaired after damage in Ukraine. However, he believes that supplies to Hungary and Slovakia are part of political pressure on Budapest for its negative stance on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

He also said that the war in Ukraine will continue for a relatively long time and he does not see a quick solution. He offered Slovakia as a country that understands both Ukrainian and Russian and is ready to assist in peace initiatives. He described President Donald Trump's approach as pragmatic and rational.

(reuters, max)