Ruptly
"Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has blasted the EU for committing 'energy suicide' amid rising global instability, economic pressure and political fragmentation, outlining his concern for the 'security and way of life' in Europe. Speaking in an Easter address on Monday, Fico said he spent the holidays reflecting on developments in Europe and beyond, adding that a sense of concern had 'constantly dominated' his thinking. He warned that global energy markets remain highly volatile, with the United States 'losing control over the war in Iran' contributing to higher oil and gas prices globally. “The situation with oil and gas is further deteriorating… No one can escape rising prices and economic decline,” he said, questioning whether current trends could affect 'peaceful life, security, and the position of states in a fragmented world order.' Fico blasted the EU for "achieving record levels of incompetence and ideological blindness" over its handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, accusing Kiev of targeting energy infrastructure essential to EU members. "Today I heard the cry of the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, addressed to Ukraine, instead of the European Union and the European Commission, standing firm and tolerating further Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure—which in the current crisis, amid the war over Iran, amounts to an energy suicide—I do not understand why the European Union is not refusing the 90-billion euro war loan to Ukraine," Fico explained, accusing Kiev of attacking Nordstream, TurkStream and blocking the Druzhba pipeline. "Ukraine’s mockery of Europe is outrageous. Major players in the EU can now see in real time how Ukraine will behave if it becomes a member of the European Union," he continued. "There is so much hypocrisy in the European Union on Russia that even empty European gas and oil storage facilities would not be enough to contain it," he added, noting that European 'moralising' over Slovakia and Hungary's energy supplies reflects double-standards with Western Europe now reportedly receiving LNG shipments from Russia. The dispute comes amid ongoing tensions between Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine over energy transit routes, infrastructure security and broader EU supply policies, as well as US–Israeli military operations against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes which led to disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz."
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