Extract from ABC News
Russian oil shipments to Slovakia and Hungary have been interrupted since January 27. (Reuters: Gleb Garanich)
In short:
Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to stop emergency funding and electricity supply to Ukraine if Kyiv does not resume shipments of oil.
Hungary's foreign minister accused Ukraine of blackmail by failing to restart oil shipments after they stalled on January 27.
What's next?
Slovakia said if Ukraine does not resume oil shipments by Monday it will seek to tell Slovak companies to stop electricity supply.
Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to stop emergency funding and electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv does not resume shipments of Russian oil.
Oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since January 27, after Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone attack damaged the Druzhba pipeline.
The pipeline carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe.
Hungary and Slovakia, which have both received a temporary exemption from an EU policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil, have accused Ukraine — without providing evidence — of deliberately holding up supplies.
Hungary will block a planned 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline resumes, Hungary's foreign minister said.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said, if Ukraine does not resume oil supplies to the country by Monday, he will ask the relevant Slovak companies to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
Ukraine accused of blackmail
In a video posted on social media on Friday evening, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of "blackmailing" Hungary by failing to restart oil shipments.
He said his government would block a massive interest-free loan the EU approved in December to help Kyiv to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.
"We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraine's war, we will not pay for it," Mr Szijjártó said.
Hungary's foreign minister accused Ukraine of blackmail. (AP: Boglarka Bodnar/MTI)
"As long as Ukraine blocks the resumption of oil supplies to Hungary, Hungary will block European Union decisions that are important and favourable for Ukraine."
Hungary's decision to block the key funding for Ukraine came two days after it suspended shipments of diesel to its embattled neighbour until oil flows through the Druzhba were resumed, and only days before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Ukraine has proposed alternative transit routes to ship oil to Europe while emergency pipeline repair works are under way.
In a letter seen by Reuters, the Ukrainian mission to the EU proposed shipments through Ukraine's oil transportation system or a maritime route.
"Ukraine consistently reiterates its continuous readiness to ensure transportation of the oil within the available legal framework," it said.
Nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Yet Hungary — an EU and NATO member — has maintained and even increased its supply of Russian oil and gas.
Russian missile factory damaged
Ukrainian drones struck an industrial site deep inside Russia on Saturday local time, which a Russian news channel said was a key state-owned missile factory.
The attack took place in Russia's Udmurt Republic, leaving 11 hurt, three of whom were hospitalised, according to a Telegram post by Sergei Bagin, the local health minister.
"One of the republic's facilities was attacked by drones" launched by Ukraine, regional head Alexander Brechalov said in another Telegram post.
He added that the strike caused injuries and damage, but did not name the site or give further details.
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities.
AP/Reuters
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