Ukraine, Hungary spat highlights tensions over pipeline assault

[ad_1] Kyiv and Budapest exchanged sharp rhetoric after tensions escalated following a Ukrainian strike on Russian oil infrastructure, which disrupted flows by a vital pipeline supplying Hungary.

Throughout a press convention on Aug. 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed that the way forward for the Druzhba oil pipeline—which delivers Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia—could hinge on Hungary's place relating to Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

"Now we have all the time supported friendship between Ukraine and Hungary," Zelensky said . "The existence of 'Druzhba' will depend on the place of Hungary."

Zelensky's remarks drew a pointy response from Hungary's Overseas Minister Peter Szijjarto, who accused Zelensky of threatening Hungary and its sovereignty.

"We urge Volodymyr Zelensky to cease threatening Hungary and to cease risking our vitality safety," Szijjarto stated in a press release on Facebook .

In flip, Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to Szijjarto's feedback, urging Hungary to cut back its dependence on Russian vitality.

"You don’t want to inform the Ukrainian President what to do or say, and when. He's the President of Ukraine, not Hungary," Sybiha wrote on X . "Hungary's vitality safety is in your individual arms," he added. "Diversify and grow to be unbiased from Russia, like the remainder of Europe."

The diplomatic tensions got here days after Ukrainian drone strikes focused the Nikolskoye pumping station in Russia's Tambov Oblast on Aug. 18. The assault quickly disrupted operations on the Druzhba pipeline, halting crude oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia.

The Druzhba pipeline, one of many world's largest, carries Russian oil on to Hungary and Slovakia—the one EU international locations nonetheless shopping for Russian crude by the system. In July, they imported $232 million and $196 million price of oil, respectively.

Hungary has repeatedly opposed EU makes an attempt to totally halt Russian vitality imports and has threatened to dam Ukraine's path to EU membership.

In the meantime, Kyiv usually carries out assaults on navy and industrial amenities in Russia, concentrating on Russian oil infrastructure to undermine Moscow's income streams and weaken its capacity to wage struggle in Ukraine.

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine, Russia hold prisoner exchange on Independence Day

Key developments on Aug. 24: * Ukraine, Russia hold prisoner exchange on Independence Day * Ukraine strikes Russia with own long-range weapons without coordinating with US, Zelensky says * Ukraine liberates 3 villages in Donetsk Oblast, military reports on Independence Day * Drone strikes spark fires at Russian gas terminal and oil refinery * Russia attacks Ukraine with 72 drones, ballistic missile on Independence Day Ukraine has brought home another group of soldiers and civilians from R

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