Ruptly
"Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on Monday accused Ukraine and the European Commission of threatening Europe's energy security, citing disruptions to the Druzhba oil pipeline amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. "You have a person who has done harm to all of Europe, and love letters are being written to him. I reject this political affair between Ursula von der Leyen and President Zelensky, which is damaging the Slovak Republic," Fico said. "Zelensky officially says that he does not wish for the Druzhba pipeline to be restored. So what is there to talk about with him when he himself claims he does not want it? The only one who can force him is the European Commission. However, the European Commission seems not to want it for political reasons," he added. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately halting oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, while Kiev insists the disruption was caused by a Russian strike. Fico also criticised the European Commission for a 'lack of response' and prioritising Ukraine over EU members, warning that ongoing tensions could influence Slovakia's stance on future EU sanctions and Ukraine's EU membership bid. The global energy market has been thrown into turmoil after US and Israeli military operations against Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks on Israeli and US assets in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20 percent of the world's oil, has been disrupted, while QatarEnergy has paused LNG production. Tensions are also rising in the Red Sea, where Yemen's Houthi fighters, backed by Iran, have threatened to block traffic through the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a vital link between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden."
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