The transit of oil by the “Friendship” pipeline was halted in late January after Russian drone attacks on the energy infrastructure in the Brodov area. Volodymyr Zelenski stated that repairing the damaged pipeline, which Russian oil hits Hungary and Slovakia, is pointless, stressing that Russian troops deliberately attack repair teams.
In response, Hungary suspended an EU debt to Kiev of EUR 90 billion and the supply of diesel, and Slovakia besides halted the export of fuel to Ukraine.
Viktor Orbán so decided to send an open letter to the president of Ukraine, whose content was published on social media.
Mr President, for 4 years you have been incapable to accept the position of the Hungarian sovereign government and the Hungarian people on the Russian-Ukrainian war. You have been working for 4 years to force Hungary to participate in the war between your country and Russia. At that time, you received the support of Brussels and secured the support of the Hungarian opposition. We besides see that you, Brussels and the Hungarian opposition coordinate efforts to bring the pro-Ukrainian government to power in Hungary – Orban wrote.
More respect for Hungary!
In the following part of the letter, the Prime Minister of Hungary focused on the ‘Friendship’ pipeline, pointing out that its blocking in fresh days threatens Hungary's energy safety and makes it hard to supply cheaper energy for Hungarian families. He stressed that Ukraine's actions were against the interests of Hungary and called for a change of policy towards its country, while noting that the Hungarian people were not liable for the current situation in Ukraine.
We sympathize with the Ukrainian people, but we do not want to participate in the war. We don't want to finance the war effort and we don't want to pay any more for energy said the Prime Minister of Hungary.
The head of the Hungarian Government called for the immediate re-introduction of oil transit by the relationship pipeline and the halting of measures threatening national energy security. – More respect for Hungary! added Orban.
Russia's doing
Ukraine stresses that Russia is liable for halting transit of Russian oil, whose attacks on 27 January severely damaged key equipment of the main pumping station in Brody in the Lviv region, including technological elements and auxiliary pipeline.
