Zelenskyy: Orbán blocks aid again; Russia damages Druzhba pipeline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes Hungary’s blocking of a EUR 90 billion financial package is not linked to the Druzhba oil pipeline.

"This is not the first time Hungary’s prime minister has blocked something. And I am not sure these issues are happening in parallel: the EUR 90 billion loan and the pipeline. Because these are different things. First of all, it was Russia that damaged the pipeline," Zelenskyy said at a press conference on Tuesday in Kyiv.

According to the President, Ukraine cannot be held responsible for the destruction caused by Russia’s actions.

"We had to restore it, more than once. Well, that pipeline – once. When you restore something, Russia attacks again," he said.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has satellite images and other evidence confirming Russia’s responsibility for the damage. In addition, the aggressor state has damaged other pipelines as well. "So if they want to block financial support, they should block Russia," he said.

Zelenskyy also suggested that Hungary could hold talks with Russia on stopping attacks on energy infrastructure.