Slovak FM urges Ukraine not to strike Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure
PRAGUE/ROME. Aug 26 (Interfax) - Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has urged Kiev in phone calls with Ukrainian officials not to strike on Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure.
These attacks "harm not only Slovakia but also Ukraine itself." Slovak media quoted Blanar as saying on Tuesday.
Blanar said he had spoken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Sibiga and Deputy Prime Minister, European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Minister Taras Kachka in recent days.
Other members of the Slovak administration, including President Peter Pellegrini, also criticized Ukraine for strikes on infrastructure of the Druzhba pipeline transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The attacks have suspended oil supply to both countries.
In turn, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described Ukrainian strikes on infrastructure of the Druzhba pipeline carrying oil to Hungary and Slovakia as an attack on those countries.
"These are attacks on Hungary and Slovakia, they target Hungary and Slovakia and damage those two countries, but not Russia," the RTRS TV channel of Republika Srpska quoted Szijjarto as saying on Tuesday.
By doing so, Kiev, backed by Brussels that keeps silent about the Ukrainian attacks on the oil pipeline, is trying to pressure Budapest and force it to change its stance on the Ukraine conflict and Ukraine's admission to the EU, Szijjarto said.
"This position completely contravenes the interests of Hungary but meets the interests of Ukraine," he said.
"Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky made it clear long ago that until Hungary takes a pro-Ukrainian stance, as Brussels and the European People's Party in the Council of Europe, strikes on the oil pipeline that is important to Hungary's energy security will go on," Szijjarto said.
He said on Friday that Ukrainian forces attacked Druzhba "for the third time in a brief period."
RTRS reminded its audience that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Zelensky's threats would have long-term consequences.
"Zelensky has openly threatened Hungary. He admitted that Ukrainians were striking the oil pipeline because we do not support Ukraine's accession to the EU. This is yet another proof that the Hungarians have taken the right stance. Zelensky's remarks will have long-term consequences," Orban said.
