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UKRAINE 'BLACKMAILING PRO-PEACE COUNTRIES'

By halting the transit of crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Ukraine is blackmailing the countries that consistently speak out in favour of an immediate ceasefire and peace talks, the head of the Prime Minister's Office said.
 

Speaking at a government press briefing, Gergely Gulyás said Ukraine’s „blackmail” of Hungary and Slovakia for their pro-peace positions was „unfair” and in violation of its agreements with the European Union. He said this posed a serious danger to the security of Hungary’s and Slovakia’s energy supply. „There’s no need to panic right now because our reserves are at a high level,” Gulyás said, adding however that the situation must be resolved by September. He said another reason why Ukraine’s actions were unfair was because the country imports more than 40% of its electricity from Hungary, only receives diesel fuel via pipeline from Hungary, and more than 10% of its diesel and natural gas imports also come from Hungary. Also, he said, Hungary provided refuge to those fleeing Ukraine and was carrying out its largest-ever humanitarian operation in the country since the start of the war. He noted that Hungary has asked the European Commission to mediate in the matter, and if that did not yield results, „we’ll also have to consider other steps.”