Orban calls on Zelensky to reopen Druzhba oil pipeline

BRUSSELS. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban published an open letter on Thursday calling on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to immediately reopen the Druzhba oil pipeline.

"I urge you to immediately reopen the Friendship [Druzhba] oil pipeline and refrain from any further attacks on Hungary's energy security," Orban said in the letter, published on X.

Kiev's actions are "against Hungary's interests and endanger the secure and affordable energy supply of Hungarian families," Orban said.

Budapest sympathizes with the Ukrainian people, but it does not wish to participate in the crisis, he said.

As reported earlier, Hungary suspended diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine following the halt in shipments to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba oil pipeline from January 27. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described that decision of Ukraine as political blackmail.

European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, for her part, said that the European Commission is in contact with the Hungarian and Slovak authorities regarding the halt on the Druzhba oil pipeline, and has reassured them that Ukraine is committed to repairing it.

Orban said earlier that Hungary will block the European Union's 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions and the disbursement of a 90-billion-euro EU loan to Kiev until the Druzhba oil pipeline is reopened.