Orban: Ukraine behind Nord Stream blasts, Druzhba oil pipeline suspension
BRUSSELS. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Kiev is responsible for the explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipelines and for the suspension of the Druzhba pipeline, which supplied oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
"Shipments via Druzhba were cut off by those who blew up the Nord Stream - by Ukraine," Hungarian media quoted Orban as saying at a press conference in Washington after the Board of Peace meeting.
There are no technical reasons that would hinder the oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, he said.
"The Druzhba oil pipeline is operational. There are no technical obstacles to the Ukrainians' resumption of oil supplies," Orban said.
Under the agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Kiev's actions must not jeopardize the EU member countries' energy security, he said.
"They are now putting it in jeopardy," Orban said.
Budapest expects the European Commission to "summon and question" the Ukrainian side, he said.
Brussels has contractual obligations to protect Hungary and Slovakia, while Ukraine is not an EU member, he said.
"It [the European Commission] must defend the interests of the member states. Therefore, it should now side with Hungary and Slovakia against Ukraine. This is its job, this is what we expect it to do," Orban said.
Orban linked the current situation to Hungary's upcoming parliamentary election in April.
"The Ukrainians are interested in having a Hungarian government that would be friendly towards Ukraine. [...] Ukraine wants Hungary to be engulfed in chaos, [...] for which people will pay, and in such a way they will be able to influence the formation of a government beneficial for themselves," he said.
As reported, the European Commission convened an emergency Oil Coordination Group meeting on February 25 following the halt in shipments to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba oil pipeline, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said.
When asked about the suspension by Hungary and Slovakia of diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine, Itkonen said that the European Commission was closely watching the situation and had discussed it on Monday and Tuesday.
She also said that in the short term, there is no threat to the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia, as both countries have emergency oil reserves for 90 days.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the day before that Hungary had halted diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine.
The Slovak government, in turn, said in a statement that the Slovnaft company "is currently suspending exports of diesel fuel to Ukraine and other supplies."
