Russia accuses Ukraine of 'energy blackmail' over blocked oil supplies to Hungary

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday described the blocking of Russian oil supplies to EU member Hungary through Ukrainian territory as "energy blackmail."

Commenting during a press briefing in Moscow on Ukraine's blocking of the Druzhba oil pipeline, through which Russia supplied oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Peskov said Russia remains in contact with European buyers of its oil.

"Of course, a certain amount of energy blackmail by Ukraine against an EU member – Hungary – is taking place," he said. "We are in contact with the buyers, but the situation here is complicated by Ukraine's position."

In response to Ukraine's actions, authorities in Budapest and Bratislava approached Croatia with a request to allow the transit of Russian oil via the Adriatic pipeline.

Peskov described the problems with Russian oil supplies and the possibility of transporting fuel through Croatian territory as a "corporate matter" being discussed at the company level.

"These are, of course, issues that are discussed at the corporate level by the companies that provide supplies and have contractual obligations," he noted.

The Adriatic Pipeline (also known as the Adria oil pipeline or the operating company JANAF) is a pipeline system connecting the Omisalj maritime terminal on the island of Krk (Croatia) with refineries in Croatia, as well as with pipelines leading to Hungary, Slovakia, and other Central European countries.

Russia cannot supply oil directly via this pipeline, but it can bring energy resources by tankers by sea to Croatia, to the Omisalj terminal, and from there it would be delivered via Adria to Hungary and Slovakia, bypassing the territory of Ukraine.