Elections to Be Held in Ukraine: Europe to Pressure Zelensky

The delay in resuming the operation of the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba oil pipeline has raised serious concerns in Europe. While Kyiv officially cites damage to infrastructure as the reason for the supply halt, some analysts see a political subtext in this process, reports gazeta.ru.

Specifically, economist Alexey Zubets believes that the postponement of the pipeline's operation could be viewed as a means of exerting pressure by Ukraine to accelerate the receipt of a €90 billion loan expected from the European Union.

The halt in oil supplies impacts not only Hungary and Slovakia's interests but also affects the energy security of Central Europe, as these countries are major suppliers of refined fuels in the region. In the current situation, Brussels may resort to countermeasures. It is possible that the provision of financial support could be directly linked to the recommissioning of the oil pipeline and the clarification of political processes in Ukraine, including the holding of elections.

According to information circulating internationally, some Western partners are considering the necessity of organizing elections in Ukraine by the end of the year. For European countries, energy stability is paramount, thus applying economic leverage on Kyiv is becoming a likely scenario. It is reminded that Slovakia's Ministry of Economy had announced on April 23 the possibility of resuming supplies, but the periodic shifting of deadlines remains a pertinent issue.