Orban accused Kyiv of blocking the Druzhba gas pipeline and undermining the Nord Stream gas pipeline

ArmInfo. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline were interrupted due to Ukraine's fault, and accused Kyiv of blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline.

"Druzhba was shut down by those who blew up Nord Stream—Ukraine," Orbán said at a press conference in Washington following a meeting of the Peace Council, according to Hungarian media.

The Hungarian leader emphasized that there are no technical reasons preventing oil transit through Druzhba.

"The Druzhba pipeline is operational." "There are no technical obstacles to Ukrainians resuming oil transportation," Orbán asserted.

According to the Prime Minister, in accordance with the agreement between the EU and Ukraine, Kyiv's actions should not jeopardize the energy security of EU member states. "Right now they are jeopardizing it," Orbán lamented.

He added that Budapest expects the European Commission (EC) to "summon and interrogate" the Ukrainian authorities.

Orbán emphasized that Brussels has treaty obligations to protect Hungary and Slovakia, while Ukraine is not an EU member.

"It (the EC - IF) must defend the interests of member states, so now it must side with Hungary and Slovakia against Ukraine. That's its job, and that's what we expect from it," the head of state stated.

Orbán also linked the current situation to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary in April: "Ukrainians are interested in having a government in Hungary that is friendly to Ukraine." (...) Ukraine is interested in chaos reigning in Hungary, (...) for which the people will pay, and thus they will be able to influence the creation of a government favorable to them."

As reported, the European Commission (EC) convened a meeting of the oil coordination group on February 25 in connection with the cessation of supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline, EC spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen stated.

Commenting on the cessation of diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine by Hungary and Slovakia, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen stated that the EC is closely monitoring the situation.

At the same time, Itkonen reiterated that in the short term, there is no risk to supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, as they are provided with emergency oil reserves for 90 days.

The day before, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Hungary had suspended Diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine.

In turn, the Slovak government announced that Slovnaft "is suspending diesel fuel exports and other exports to Ukraine."