“I don’t believe Zelensky”: Fico said Ukraine did not allow the EU ambassador onto the Druzhba pipeline

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Ukraine did not allow the European Union’s ambassador to visit the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Fico made the remarks at a press conference, according to the outlets Denník and SITA.

“Slovakia has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine, and I cannot accept his (Zelensky’s — Ed.) position. I don’t believe President Zelensky. Not even that he has a nose between his eyes,” Fico said.

He added that he has satellite images and believes the damage cited by Ukraine does not prevent oil transit.

“I have satellite images… Based on these images, it is absolutely confirmed that there is no damage there of such a degree that it would prevent oil supplies to Slovakia, Hungary, and Europe,” he said.

Fico stated that Slovakia had proposed several ways to verify the situation on site.

“First we asked our ambassador to go there. He wasn’t allowed. Then the European Union ambassador to Ukraine, Ms. Maternová, asked to visit the site. She wasn’t allowed either,” he said.

“We also proposed creating an inspection group. President Zelensky told me he rejects it. And he rejected such a proposal even when it was a request from the President of the European Commission,” the Slovak prime minister added.

Fico said Slovakia is coordinating with the European Commission and applying pressure to allow inspections and resume transit.

“We must put pressure on President Zelensky so that he allows inspections at this location. And above all, apply additional pressure so that oil passes through his territory,” he said.

As previously reported, it became known the day before that Slovakia is terminating its contract with Ukrenergo under which Ukraine receives electricity in emergency situations.

Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called on the European Commission to force Ukraine to supply Russian oil to Hungary.