Sputnik reported that Hungarian Foreign Minister and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said in an interview with Belarus TV channel Pervy Informatsionny on September 10 that Hungary could cause "major problems" to Ukraine in connection with attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline, but would not cut off power so that innocent families would not be affected.
We can cause big problems for Ukraine: 40% of Ukraines electricity is provided by us. But they know we won't do it - not "turn off the scaffolding", because we don't want innocent families, mothers, and children to suffer. Those people are not responsible for the reckless actions of their president or army, Szijjarto said when asked about what Budapest could take in response to the Druzhba oil pipeline attacks.
According to Mr. Szijjarto, Hungary does not want to make the situation of Ukrainians worse.
The poor people of Ukraine have suffered enough. We don't want to make them suffer more. This shows the injustice in the behavior of the Ukrainian leadership. We provide them with 40% of the electricity, while they respect us with attacks on the oil pipeline. It is unacceptable," the Hungarian Foreign Minister stressed.
Szijjarto said on August 22 that oil supplies via Druzhba to Hungary had been stopped for the third time in recent times due to attacks from Ukraine.
Slovakia and Hungary have filed a complaint to the European Commission about the disruption of oil supplies via the pipeline, and requested security.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister added on August 27 that oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline were scheduled to resume on August 28 in a trial phase and had not yet reached full capacity.
