Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry advises Hungary and Slovakia to send ultimatums to Kremlin, not Kyiv
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has described statements by representatives of Hungary and Slovakia about a possible halt in electricity supplies to Ukraine as blackmail and advised them to send their ultimatums to the Kremlin, not Kyiv.
Source: a statement by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry regarding Hungary and Slovakia's electricity blackmail
Quote: "Ukraine rejects and condemns the ultimatums and blackmail by the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic regarding energy supplies between our countries.
Such actions, in the context of massive and targeted Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and Moscow's attempts to deprive Ukrainians of electricity, heating and gas during extreme cold weather, are provocative and irresponsible, and threaten the energy security of the entire region. In doing so, the governments of Hungary and Slovakia are not only playing into the hands of the aggressor but also harming their own energy companies that supply energy on a commercial basis."
Details: Ukraine is in constant contact with European Commission representatives regarding the damage caused to its energy infrastructure by daily Russian strikes, and has also provided information to the governments of Hungary and Slovakia regarding the consequences that these attacks have had on the Druzhba pipeline.
The Foreign Ministry emphasised that security and stabilisation repair work continues amid the daily threat of further missile attacks. Furthermore, Ukraine has proposed alternative ways of resolving the issue of supplying non-Russian oil to these countries.
Quote: "Ukraine has always been, is, and will remain a reliable energy partner of the EU and a transit country for energy resources. At the same time, in light of the unfounded and irresponsible threats coming from Budapest and Bratislava in recent days, Ukraine is considering the possibility of activating the Early Warning Mechanism provided for in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
We call on the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic to engage in constructive cooperation and behave responsibly. Ultimatums should be sent to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kyiv."
Background:
- Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that he will move to halt electricity exports from Slovakia to Ukraine unless Ukraine reinstates the transit of Russian oil to Slovakia by Monday.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also threatened to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine if the transit of oil via the Druzhba pipeline does not resume.
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