Fico and Orban Want Inspection Group to Examine Damage to Druzhba Pipeline

Bratislava, 27 February (TASR) - Slovakia and Hungary will propose that an inspection group should be set up to examine the damage to the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) announced on Friday, adding that he's agreed on this with Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban. "As we have information that the pipeline is functional, we've agreed with the Hungarian premier that we'll propose an inspection group. It should be composed of representatives of Slovakia and Hungary, as well as the European Commission (EC). The group should be allowed to visit the section of the Druzhba pipeline that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims is damaged and is preventing the transit of oil," said Fico. They intend to submit the proposal to the EC. "We'll request that the inspection technical group travel there as soon as possible," said the Slovak premier. He reiterated that Slovakia has information indicating that the Druzhba pipeline has not been damaged, while claiming that the Hungarians have the same information. He also pointed out that neither the Slovak ambassador in Kiev, nor the EU ambassador have been allowed to inspect the site of the alleged damage. At the same time, Fico confirmed that he's scheduled to speak to Zelenskyy by phone regarding the transit of oil later on Friday. He fears that there might be another delay in resuming oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline. He indicated that he wants to ask the Ukrainian head of state several questions. "I think that this is a pointless, ideological and harmful decision as far as Slovakia and Hungary are concerned," he said, adding that he'll inform the public about the content of the phone call. ko/df