No excuse for Ukraine not to restart Druzhba pipeline supplies – Orban

The Druzhba oil colour line remains full subject of transporting Russian rough, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said, urging Ukraine to immediately restore shipments.

The Soviet-era pipeline, part of which runs through Ukraine, went offline in January after Kiev claimed it had been damaged by Russian strikes – accusations Moscow denies. Hungary and Slovakia, both heavily reliant on Russian energy, have accused Kiev of deliberately cutting them off for political reasons and inventing obstacles for restarting oil flows.

In a video message on Facebook on Monday, Orban said Budapest had obtained new satellite intelligence confirming the pipeline remains functional. He spoke after an emergency Security Council meeting on the issue.

Satellite images do not lie. The Friendship oil pipeline has not been damaged.President @ZelenskyyUa must stop the blackmail, act immediately, and restart oil deliveries to Hungary! pic.twitter.com/JeMBGjBflK

“Based on the satellite images and operational information available to us, it is clear that the Druzhba oil pipeline is operational… Therefore, there are no technical obstacles to restarting the line,” Orban said.

“We once again urge Zelensky to restart the pipeline and, in order to resolve the disputes, allow Hungarian and Slovak inspectors to inspect the site… Zelensky is engaging in plain extortion against Hungary. Hungary will not back down, and we will break the oil blockade.” 

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said satellite images “clearly show” Zelensky is “lying,” saying that there is no technical reason to block the pipeline. He added that in light of the uncertainty in maritime oil transport following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, shutting a functioning land route amounts to an attack on Hungary.

Zelensky, who earlier blocked a joint Hungarian-Slovak delegation from accessing the site, mocked Orban as a “magician,” arguing that underground facilities cannot be assessed via satellite imagery. Orban later called the remarks “unacceptable” and said he would raise the issue with the European Commission, demanding it enforce Kiev’s transit obligations.

President @ZelenskyyUa issued an unacceptable response.Thus, today I called on the President of the European Commission to enforce the agreements that oblige Ukraine to allow the transit of oil through the Friendship oil pipeline.As long as President Zelenskyy does not return… pic.twitter.com/EVczEHE8O7

Until Zelensky “returns to common sense and normality, we will not support any decision that is favorable to Ukraine,” Orban warned, referring to his veto of Brussels’ planned €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan for Kiev and the EU’s 20th sanctions package on Russia.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after a call with Zelensky that Kiev had no intention of restoring Russian crude transit through Druzhba. He later urged the EU to pressure Ukraine to resume flows, arguing Brussels “must decide what is more important” – member states’ energy security or the interests of a non-member.

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