A special EU mechanism is being considered: the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to Fico and Orban’s energy blackmail
Електроопора. Фото - Reuters
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has rejected and condemned the ultimatums and blackmail by the leadership of the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic regarding energy supplies between the countries. The ministry stressed that such actions are taking place against the backdrop of massive Russian shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The ministry noted that in the context of Russia’s targeted attacks on energy infrastructure and attempts to leave Ukrainians without electricity, heating, and gas during extreme cold, such statements are provocative and irresponsible.
“Such actions in the context of massive and targeted Russian shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and Moscow’s attempts to leave Ukrainians without electricity, heating, and gas during extreme cold are provocative, irresponsible, and jeopardize the energy security of the entire region,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
The agency added that the governments of Hungary and Slovakia, in their assessment, are playing along with the aggressor and harming their own energy companies, which supply on a commercial basis.
Ukraine is in constant contact with representatives of the European Commission regarding damage to energy infrastructure as a result of daily Russian strikes. Information about the consequences of attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure has also been conveyed to the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic.
The Foreign Ministry reported that security and stabilization repair work is ongoing amid daily threats of new missile attacks. In addition, Ukraine has proposed alternative ways to resolve the issue of supplying non-Russian oil to these countries.
“Ukraine has always been, is and will remain a reliable energy partner of the EU and a transit country for energy resources,” the ministry said.
At the same time, the department noted that, against the backdrop of groundless threats from Budapest and Bratislava, Ukraine is considering the possibility of activating the “Early Warning Mechanism” provided for by the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
“Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and definitely not to Kyiv,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized.
As is known, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the possible cessation of electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline is not resumed. According to him, a significant part of electricity comes to Ukraine from Hungary, and its cessation could have consequences.
Earlier, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he may initiate the termination of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil transit is not restored by Monday, February 23.
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