Trust between Ukraine and Slovakia is badly damaged over Druzhba, Slovak PM says

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he will not be surprised if oil flow via the Druzhba pipeline stops operating again shortly after the EU approves its loan for Ukraine.

Source: Fico on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Fico said the Slovak government did not agree to the loan for Ukraine and is not taking part in it, just like Hungary and Czechia.

He added, however, that the loan had been approved in a lawful manner by the European Union.

Quote: "I assume this loan may be unblocked on condition that all steps are taken to resume [the oil flow via] the Druzhba pipeline. Our technical services are also telling us that the pipeline is undergoing pressure testing and that certain preparatory measures are under way.

I will not speculate now about what will happen, whether it will be so or not. Trust between Slovakia and Ukraine is badly damaged, undermined, when it comes to the ability to keep promises that someone makes."

More details: Fico said that in those circumstances he will not be surprised that if the €90 billion loan were unblocked and then, after a short time, oil supplies were cut again, if the oil flow via Druzhba pipeline is reopened at all.

He stressed that oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are extremely important for the region where Slovakia is located.

Quote: "And, without doubt, this would help calm the situation and bring stability, but above all in Slovakia we could begin talking about steps that would also help stabilise price levels, which are rising everywhere in the world."

Background:

• The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU has launched a written procedure to approve amendments to the EU's 2021-2027 long-term budget, including a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the bloc's 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The process is set to last 24 hours – until 12:00 on 23 April (13:00 Kyiv time).
• That step became possible after Ukraine restored transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the unblocking of the procedure for approving the €90 billion loan and the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia, stressing that he expects the agreements to be implemented promptly.

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