Zelenski accuses the EU of “blackmail” and says he will not reopen the pipeline with Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia
Volodymyr Zelensky states that the member states of the European Union are trying to get Ukraine to reopen the Drujba oil pipeline, through political blackmail, but that he will not give in to these pressures, even in principle. “This is called blackmail.”
Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the European Union of “blackmail”. PHOTO: AFP
Volodymyr Zelensky said that the European Union is trying to exert pressure on Kiev to force it to reopen the Drujba oil pipeline, through which Russian oil reaches Hungary and Slovakia, notes gulfnews.
He emphasized that the resumption of transit would be practically equivalent to the lifting of economic sanctions against Moscow, which Ukraine cannot accept.
We remind you that the oil pipeline, built during the Soviet era, was seriously damaged in January by Russian airstrikes and has not yet been repaired.
In this context, Hungary, dependent on Russian oil, made political and financial support for Ukraine conditional on the reopening of the pipeline, blocking both the approval of new EU sanctions against Moscow and the release of a 90 billion euro loan to Kiev. In fact, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has made opposition to Ukraine a central issue in his election campaign for the April elections, as his party faces a deficit in the polls.
Zelenski qualifies the EU's request as “blackmail”
Following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, as the energy crisis widens, the European Union has asked Volodymyr Zelenskiy to quickly repair the pipeline and allow inspectors access to assess the damage, fearing that Kiev's opposition could strengthen Viktor Orbán's position.
However, Volodymyr Zelensky says he is opposed in principle to the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine, while the EU maintains sanctions against its sale to other countries.
“Either we sell Russian oil or we don't. Because [UE] forces me to restore Drujba. How is this different from lifting sanctions against the Russians? Why can we, in one case, tell the United States that we oppose the lifting of sanctions, while, on the other hand, we force Ukraine to resume the transit of oil through Drujba – and at a political price that, in fact, pays for anti-European policies?”, says the Ukrainian president.
His comments come after the US eased sanctions that prevented other countries from buying Russian oil to ease an energy crisis caused by the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Zelensky emphasized that his decision does not block anything, but respects Ukraine's principles: “If we decided to restore the supply of Russian oil, then I want them to know that I am against it. And there is no need to accuse me of blocking anything. I am not blocking.”
At the same time, he categorized the “pressures” coming from the European Union for the opening of the Drujba oil pipeline as political blackmail
“I say openly: I am against this. But if conditions are imposed on me that Ukraine will not receive weapons, then, excuse me, I am powerless in this matter. I told our friends in Europe that this is called blackmail,” he stated.
On the other hand, Volodymyr Zelenskiy says that, given that the 90 billion euro loan granted to Ukraine by the EU has been approved by all 27 member states except Hungary, it must be implemented in full, without conditions related to the reopening of the pipeline.
