Hungary and Slovakia have intensified their opposition to Ukraine, accusing it of blackmail and threatening to halt diesel exports to the war-torn country.
Slovakia Will Cease Diesel Exports to Ukraine.
According to Stirile this move reflects a broader rift between the Eastern European nations and Kyiv amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has given Ukraine a tight deadline, warning that if the transit of Russian crude oil through Ukrainian territory is not resumed in the coming days, Slovakia will cease its diesel exports to Ukraine.
Fico announced this decision in a recent video post, emphasizing that the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava will stop supplying diesel, which accounts for 10% of Ukraine's needs, unless Ukrainian restrictions on Russian oil transit are lifted.
The European Union Should Consider Cooperating with Russia
According to Fico, this restriction on oil transit is detrimental not only to Slovakia and Hungary but also to Ukraine, while Russia remains unaffected. He criticized Ukraine's actions and suggested that the European Union should consider cooperating with Russia to counterbalance the influence of the United States.
Hungary has already accused Ukraine of blackmailing countries seeking peace by restricting the transit of Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary. Hungarian officials, including Gergely Gulyas, head of the Prime Minister’s Office, have voiced their dissatisfaction, stating that while Hungary respects its commitments to Ukraine, it cannot be subjected to blackmail.
The escalating rhetoric from Hungary and Slovakia signals a growing divide within the European Union over the handling of Russian energy supplies and relations with Ukraine.
