The Russian-Ukrainian war has entered a new phase after Kiev tries to blackmail European countries by blocking the Friendship oil pipeline. After the Russians could not transfer the transit fee due to the failed Brussels sanctions (the banking system sent it back to them), the Ukrainians simply decided not to accept the money in any other form, so they will no longer transport oil to Europe through the southern branch of the pipeline that passes through them. President Volodymyr Zelensky's goals are clear: he wants as much chaos as possible in Europe, and on the other hand, he wants to retaliate against Hungary because we are not willing to drift into war and do not send weapons to Ukraine. The Ukrainian government constantly attacks not only Hungary, but also its other allies, while several Ukrainian mayors have spoken out against Zelensky, because they believe the president is preparing to introduce a military dictatorship.
On Tuesday morning, the presidential adviser of the Russian company Transneft, Igor Djomin, announced that the Ukrainian Ukrtransnafta on August 4, shortly after 6 a.m.
OIL DELIVERY HAS BEEN STOPPED ON THE SOUTHERN BRANCH OF THE BÁRÁTSÁG PIPELINE TO HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA AND CZECH REPUBLIC.
The reason given by the Ukrainian side was that the Russians did not pay the necessary transit fees, while according to the Russian side, they started the transfer on time, but the transfer was not completed due to the seventh Brussels sanctions package. As is known, due to the sanctions, many Russian banks were disconnected from the international SWIFT system, and as a result, in many cases, it became practically impossible to conduct financial transactions.
The formula for transit fees is pretty simple. The Friendship oil pipeline, which starts in the Samara region, splits into two after the city of Bryansk, with one branch going through Belarus and the other through Ukraine.
THE RUSSIAN TRANSNEFT WILL CARRY OUT THE PROCESS UP TO THE BORDER, UKRTRANSNAFTA ALREADY RETURNS WITHIN THE UKRAINIAN BORDER.
In order for the Russians to use the "stuck" part of the crude oil pipeline built in Soviet times in Ukraine, they have to pay a so-called transit fee to Ukraine. This is done by advance payment, so by a certain date the Russian side must pay the transit fee in order to continue to deliver oil on the part of the Friendship pipeline that passes through Ukraine. Since this was not fulfilled due to the sanctions, the Ukrainians will not allow more Russian oil to pass through, and this fact has already been confirmed by MOL and Slovak Transpetrol.
The Russians tried to pay in another form, but the Ukrainians rejected this, and they did not even respond to MOL's offer - that the transit fee be paid by the Hungarian oil company. In fact, Zelensky has been waiting for a long time to block the pipeline, but so far they have not been able to do so, as it would have caused a foreign policy scandal. Now, however, he found an excuse, the transit fees, which the Russians could not pay precisely because of the sanctions imposed by the Ukrainians.
Earlier, Origo also reported that the recently reinstated Ukrainian ambassador in Budapest continuously insulted Hungary and not only wanted to get the oil embargo voted on, but also strongly supported the introduction of the gas embargo.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CASE THAT THE UKRAINIANS WANT TO ACHIEVE MORE SUICIDE SANCTIONS THROUGH BLACKMAIL.
At the beginning of May, for example, it was announced that the transit of natural gas through a transit point through which almost a third of the gas transported from Russia to Europe passes. Even then, of course, Moscow was blamed; they claimed that they were forced to make the decision because of Russian separatists.
Even more memorable and telling is the statement of Olena Zerkal, the adviser to the Ukrainian energy minister, who previously reacted to Hungary's refusal to vote on the sanctions introduced against Russian oil, as the government does not want Hungarians to pay the price of the war.
“This is unfortunate because
Ukraine has a strong trump card: the Friendship pipeline. Something could happen with this pipeline, but in the end the Ukrainian government and the president decide on political issues and whether we use language that Viktor Orbán understands," said Zerkal at the time, practically predicting what is happening now, since the completely Desperate, constantly under American pressure and increasingly autocratic, Zelensky felt that now was the time to use his trump card.
HOWEVER, THIS ACTION OF KIEV CLEARLY CROSSES THE RED LINE AND THREATS THE SECURITY NOT ONLY OF HUNGARY, BUT ALSO OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA BY BEING UNWILLING TO ALLOW RUSSIAN OIL.
However, it is revealing that several proposed solutions were rejected; as we wrote: also that the Russians pay in a different way, and also that MOL pays.
Extraordinary noon:
Thanks to Mol, the Friendship line can be restarted. After all, the settlement was successful!
Mol negotiated with the Ukrainian and Russian sides on the restart of the Friendship pipeline and transferred the transit fee to be paid for the use of the Ukrainian section, the company announced on Wednesday.
"By taking over the fee obligation, Mol provided a quick solution to the problem: according to the Ukrainians' promise, crude oil delivery can resume within a few days, which was stopped a few days ago due to technical obstacles on the bank's side," read the announcement.
According to the information, the quick action was justified by the supply situation: crude oil arrives in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic via the southern section of the Barátság pipeline, and although Mol has its own reserves in Hungary sufficient for several weeks, as a large regional company it also assumes responsibility for the security of supply in the surrounding countries. (Source: hirado.hu)
Source: Origo
Featured image: Office of the President of Ukraine
