Posted on 12/31/2024 7:24:02 AM PST by delta7
The European Union would prefer to cut off Slovakia and Hungary from accessing energy than to “cave” to Russia. Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia paid a visit to Russian President Vladamir Putin to discuss the matter as tensions between EU nations heat up over the energy scandal.
Hungary and Slovakia are exempt from the EU ban on Russian crude oil. These landlocked neighbors are to receive oil through the Druzhba pipeline, but Ukraine has prevented these nations from receiving shipments. Lukoil may be the main supplier using this line, but Russneft, Tatneft, and Gazprom also utilize this line, leading Ukraine to intervene.
Hungary was blocking aid to Ukraine as a result, but Brussels repeatedly told Hungary that it was wrong. Slovakia would like to continue receiving Russian gas through Ukraine, noting that alternative routes would cost over 500 million euros in additional fees. Yet, the EU and Ukraine would prefer to starve these nations of energy than to permit them to use Russian oil.
Russian gas composed 40% of the EU’s supply, down to only 10% as of 2023. Slovakia and Hungary, however, rely more heavily on imported gas from Russia. “Slovakia is part of the single European energy market and Fico must respect common European rules,” Zelensky stated, claiming that Putin gave Fico the orders to “open a second energy front” against Ukraine.
Fico has threatened to cut off emergency power supplies to Ukraine if they blocked their ability to access Russian energy. The current standing transit deal is due to expire, and Zelensky does not care if other nations suffer as a result. Zelensky said he will not renew the contract or work with Moscow in any capacity. Brussels also does not care, which is precisely why the EU is beginning to crack.
Why should Slovakia continue sending endless aid to Ukraine when Zelensky is causing its people to suffer needlessly? Zelensky is not a diplomat but a dictator, as are the unelected officials in Brussels. Fico offered to aid in peace talks, but of course, he logically knows that is not an option. This single issue is causing EU nations to break with Brussels in favor of Moscow, as Putin now appears to be the only reasonable leader with their interests in mind.
Ukraine always was Russian territory... literally owned for many centuries.
A lot of the FR’s harpy-toads pretend that entire history is vapor. The nation was created by RUSSIANS in 1991 specifically as a buffer to NATO.
3rd party meddling, by bad actors like Biden, Nuland and the green midget got us - and Europe- where we are now.
American last neocons, the MIC and mystery-meat FReepers would rather bankrupt us, or even resort to nukes than lose their money and global dreams.
No how many dead, injured or ruined.
I'm sure "Z" would love the money from the fees these countries that use the lines pay to Ukraine.
Why? WTF is wrong with you?
leading Ukraine to intervene"
Sounds like Elensky's Go bag is full to the brim with stolen greenbacks, if he's trying to start a war with Hungary and Slovakia.
Dumbchit Kreeper!
NATO to Starve Hungary and Slovakia of Russian Oil
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https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB937352708437378435
OK, Iran has many billions of gallons of oil set aside in Chinese ports, looking for a buyer(s).
Which month next year does the US civil war begin?
Poland can afford at least 35,000 men worth of electric given their losses in Ukraine:)
So the fact that Ukraine doesn’t worry about two countries by cutting off gas and oil to them means that those two countries should care about Ukraine?
Seriously I am really tired of having our children’s future mortgaged to pay for the war in Ukraine, exactly when has the war against communism ever worked out, Korea, Vietnam?
Five years ago, the US was supplying them. Biden empowered Russia and Iran by relegating energy supremacy to them.
Ukraine has not yet cut off the pipeline through it. That will happen tomorrow.
Hungary has been disrespecting Ukraine now for a couple years, and Slovakia since its election of 2023.
So, which comes first? The cause or the effect. Oh, wait, I know. Putin foreknew that Ukraine would cut off the pipeline and shared this knowledge with Hungary and Slovakia.
Again, the all-knowing Putin resolves what would be a riddle to non-believers in his powers.
“….and Vlad say Checkmate, again”
You forgot the “legendary” adjective...
Where have we ever defeated communism and how does this affect “our children?”
No, we didn’t win every part of our confrontation with communism, but we overall won the cold war.
The Berlin Wall fell on 9 Nov 1989; and, the Soviet Union fell on 26 Dec 1991.
Today, Bulgara, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovenia aren’t occupied by the Soviet Union.
Neither are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, nor most of Georgia, Moldova or Ukraine.
We might say the same about Russia, except it turned away from the path of liberal democratic capitalism under Putin, who considered the fall of the Soviet Union and its vassal states to be the worst event of the last 100 years.
As for Viet Nam, it has moved to a middle ground between communism and capitalism. And, as for Korea, half of that peninsula is doing just fine. From Putin’s perspective, North Korea is the half that is doing fine; and, from the American perspective, South Korea is the half.
In this hemisphere, Cuba is a basket case of a country, as are Nicaragua and Venezuela. But most of Latin America is o.k. and parts of Latin America are going well.
Democracy and capitalism have their problems. But, communism and this new form of authoritarianism that has succeeded communism in Russia are hell.
As for how does our defense affects “our children?” The standard of living in the United States is $65.6K; approx. six times as large as in Russia $10.5K.
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