Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday with a military action by Ukraine against Hungary if the leader in Budapest does not unblock the 90 billion euro financial aid offered by the EU to Ukraine. Orban vetoed this aid in retaliation for the delayed restart of the Ukrainian section of the Drujba oil pipeline.
Ukraine hopes that „someone” in the European Union will not block the granting of a 90 billion euro repair credit from the EU. „Otherwise, we will give the number of that person to the Armed Forces, to our boys, for them to call and speak their language,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, alluding to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as reported by Interfax Ukraine.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine is awaiting the European Council meeting on March 19 and "will rely on a positive decision" regarding the 90 billion euros.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that his country will block the European Union from adopting a new package of sanctions against the Russian Federation and the allocation of a 90 billion euro repair credit from the EU until the damaged "Drujba" oil pipeline, hit during a bombing on January 27, is repaired.
Zelesnki Wouldn't Want the Pipeline Repaired
The Drujba oil pipeline, which passes through Ukraine and supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, but is out of operation following what Kiev claims was a Russian attack, may only become operational again in a month and a half, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Thursday.
"According to current information, in about a month and a half this pipeline could be put back into operation," Zelensky stated, as reported by Interfax Ukraine.
Furthermore, the leader in Kiev believes it is not worth repairing the Drujba oil pipeline, which was damaged. "To be honest, I wouldn't repair it (Drujba – ed.). This is my position. I have told this to European leaders and those who have called me about this issue, as well as to the leadership of the European Union, because it concerns Russian oil," the Ukrainian president said on Thursday.
He mentioned that there are still some principles that are priceless. In particular, the Russians are killing Ukrainians, and "we have to give oil to Orban because, poor guy, he can't win elections without this oil," sarcastically commented the leader in Kiev, according to the cited source.
Orban Threatens with Force
In turn, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted a video on social media threatening to force Ukraine to resume the transit of Russian oil through the Drujba pipeline. According to him, Hungary has political and financial tools to force Ukraine to resume the transit of oil.
"We will win. And we will win by force. We have political and financial tools, and with their help, we will force them to unconditionally and as soon as possible restore the operation of the Druja oil pipeline," said Viktor Orban. "I want it to be clear, we will win here and we will win by force. There will be no compromises here. We will defeat them. We will break the oil blockade, we will force the Ukrainians to restore the supply not through business, not through an agreement, not through compromise, but by force," Orban stated.
On March 2, Prime Minister Viktor Orban presented satellite images that would prove the absence of obstacles in the functioning of the Drujba pipeline. Commenting on this, Zelensky said that the satellite images do not show all the details. The Ukrainian president rebuked Orban and his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, for their selfishness regarding the Drujba oil pipeline situation.
The Stakes of Tensions Between Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia
On January 27, after Russia bombed Drujba near the city of Brody in the Lviv region, the deliveries of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia were halted. Ukraine explained the lack of transit due to damages and the need for repairs, which are delayed by hostile attacks.
Hungary and Slovakia are still forced to use their strategic reserves of oil, and the leaders of these countries, the only ones in the EU still receiving Russian oil, claim that Ukraine is keeping the pipeline blocked in a political blackmail action against them for refusing to support Kiev in the war with Russia, especially because Orban opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU.
In retaliation, Hungary has suspended deliveries of diesel, gas, and electricity to Ukraine and vetoed the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, also blocking a European financial aid of 90 billion euros offered to Ukraine.
Similarly, Slovakia has suspended electricity deliveries to Ukraine. Prime Minister Fico stated last Thursday that he could take additional measures against Ukraine if it does not unblock the flow of Russian oil. The Slovak Prime Minister described Ukraine as a corrupt country that behaves disrespectfully towards EU member states. "And they expect us to raise our hands and vote 'yes' like sheep," Fico added.
Last Friday, Fico had a phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky. Fico later stated about this discussion that it left him with a "clear impression" that Ukraine does not want to allow the resumption of the flow of Russian oil through the Drujba pipeline. Furthermore, the Slovak Prime Minister added, Zelensky rejected Hungary's and Slovakia's request for a European mission in which these two countries would participate to verify the condition of the pipeline in Ukraine.