"Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed that Ukraine would be capable to cause intentional damage to the Druzhba pipeline, insisting to allow inspectors to assess its state, at a press conference in Ziar nad Hronom on Friday. “The pipeline is not damaged. It is not damaged. Unless they intentionally damage it today, tomorrow, or the day after, as they destroyed Nord Stream. Ukraine is undoubtedly capable of doing that,” he said. Fico claimed that both the Slovak ambassador and the European Union (EU) ambassador to Ukraine were denied access to the pipeline part that  Kiev claims ‘no longer technologically feasible’. Denouncing the bloc’s silence over the issue as an ‘extremely dangerous trend’, he said that he and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban had set up a joint committee for it. “Since we have diametrically different views regarding the technical condition of the pipeline, since we have information that the pipeline is functional, there is an agreement with the Hungarian Prime Minister that we will propose an inspection group,” he said adding that it should include Slovak, Hungarian and other EU specialists. “We will present such a proposal to the European Commission and request the fastest possible dispatch of an inspection technical team,” Fico added. The Slovak leader defended his country’s right to receive Russian oil through the pipeline until 2027, backed by official agreements. “The European Union allowed exceptions regarding RePowerEU, and we can still use Russian oil until 2027. We equally have the right to it because there are contracts. Not to mention that it is more advantageous for us,” he stated. “So please explain to me why I should praise the Ukrainian president for deliberately stopping the flow of oil and gas to us.” Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately halting oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline from Russia for political reasons - while Kiev claims the line was damaged by a 'Russian attack'. On Wednesday, the EU said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had urged Zelensky to 'accelerate' repairs. Hungary blocked the 20th package of sanctions on Russia this week - and said it would halt the latest 90 billion euro loan from the EU to Ukraine too - as the row escalated."