Former Ukrainian commander threatens Slovakia and Hungary over energy blockade

The threats by Hungary and Slovakia to impose an energy blockade on Ukraine are more of a problem for the European Union than for Ukraine, said Yevhen Dykyj, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war and former commander of the Aidar battalion, on Radio NV, according to the Gazeta.ua portal.

He was responding to ultimatums from Viktor Orbán's government, which is blocking aid to Ukraine at the European level, and Robert Fico's (Smer) government, which this week halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine until it resumes oil supplies via Druzhba.

Dykyj said the situation highlights the helplessness of the European Union, which is unable to deal with two prime ministers whom he described as ‘Putin's agents’.

He also noted that there is increasing talk of a world without rules, in which the stronger players make the decisions, and that Ukraine is not the weakest player in this game. He pointed out that if the EU does not have effective leverage, it may be necessary to address the leaders of both countries in a different way.

‘Hungary and Slovakia, to put it mildly, are not Russia. The armed forces of these two countries are much weaker than any of our army corps. Perhaps we should speak the language of the modern Trumpian world: either you turn on what you have decided to turn off, or we will come and take these facilities under our protection and turn them against you,’ he threatened.