In recent days, Russia and Poland have been in a positive position on diplomatic occasions.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Szikorski made controversial remarks around EU member states' energy facilities, suddenly bringing fire to the entire European energy line.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova spoke publicly this week, denouncing Sikorsky’s public support for terrorist attacks on energy lines in another EU member state.
She also gave Sikorski a controversial nickname-"Osama bin Sikorski", which caused public opinion to blow up.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siarto has criticized Poland's refusal to extradite a Ukrainian suspect involved in the 2022 North Stream gas pipeline explosion investigation, saying it hindered the normal progress of the case.
Sikorsky’s response was tough.He said he was “proud of Poland’s position” and also cast a more controversial point of view, stating clearly that he “welcomes the destruction of the “Dru-Jiba” pipeline that delivers Russian crude oil to Hungary.”
The Druzhba Pipeline is an important energy transportation infrastructure in Europe and is responsible for transporting Russian crude oil to Hungary and other Central and Eastern European countries. The stable operation of this pipeline is related to the energy security and people's livelihood security of relevant countries.
As the foreign minister of the EU member states, Zikorsky openly supported the destruction of energy facilities in the same EU member states, which turned out to be a shock inside the EU, and Russia also grabbed the hand.
Zaharova asked, “So what other civilian infrastructure Osama bin Sikorsky thinks should be destroyed?” she linked Sikorsky’s remarks directly to terrorism, and was full of firepowder.
Poland's position on the North Stream gas pipeline explosion has been controversial.After the case, Warsaw argued that the destruction of the North Stream pipeline was a "legitimate act of war" and not a terrorist attack widely recognized by the international community.
Sikorsky, a member of the opposition parliament at the time, posted the message "Thank you America" on social media platforms, interpreted by the outside as suggesting that the United States was associated with the pipeline explosion.
Recently, Polish courts refused to extradite a Ukrainian suspect in the case to Germany on grounds of legal issues such as "insufficient evidence" and "maritime properties".
Germany's request was blocked, making the Nord Stream investigation even more complicated.
The Russian side has rapidly focused on the recent harsh statements of Zikolsky.The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly qualified the strike on Drudzhaba as a "terrorist act" and "robberies", accusing the West of tolerance.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that Poland was “prepared to resort to terrorism,” not even contented with relying on Ukraine’s confrontation and trying to personally push for extremism.
Lavrov described Poland’s behavior as a “terrorist tendency” with an unusually sharp wording.
Russia also continues to name the EU for "ridiculing Hungary for help", extending the finger from a single country to the EU level, and strengthening the narrative of "EU disunity".
The EU emphasizes "internal solidarity" and "community rules", and members of the Foreign Ministers openly "cover" on key energy facilities in another member state, inevitably disrupting public opinion and government coordination.
Hungary and Slovakia are directly affected and have requested stronger facility protection and coordination in the Brussels channel. The public exchange between the foreign ministers of Poland and Hungary is putting bilateral differences on the EU agenda.
Sikorsky recently spoke in London about "Europe should be prepared to respond to a deeper strike by Russian troops", arguing that the Eastern Wing should strengthen air defense and drone barriers. This security claim is mixed with the "hard lever" on the energy line in the same public opinion field, inevitably interpreted by neighbors as "security priority, supply second".
There are three lines moving simultaneously.
The first is the line of justice. The North Stream case continues to advance, and the Polish court’s decision to refuse extradition makes transnational investigation more complicated. The German evidence chain needs to be strengthened, and judicial cooperation within the EU is under pressure.
The second is the energy line. Druzhba has frequently suspended power supply, Hungary and Slovakia have called on the EU to protect the line, and energy security has once again been put on the political table.
The third is the line of public opinion. The Westkolsky social media "hard gossip", overlapping the old post "Thank you, USA" memories of the early years, provides the Russian side with a continuous attack window. The Russian side has taken advantage of labelled exports such as "fighting civilian infrastructure".
The international community has generally recognized that the energy transmission system belongs to the key civil infrastructure and is safe for people's livelihoods and economic operation.
Regardless of the political stance, speeches in support of destruction of civilian facilities will hit the consensus of "inviolability of civilian facilities."Regional chain reactions are very common, including supply cessations, price fluctuations and escalation of cross-border disputes.
Sikorsky’s remarks touched this bottom line and sparked widespread controversy. The Russian side has also continued to grab the line in the TASS, foreign ministers and speeches for “legitimacy” narratives.
Three things are happening simultaneously.
First, the battle of the mouth will not stop. Westkolsky and Westarto’s reaction on social platforms is still refreshing, and the media is following high.
Second, the shield and refueling lines are both hand-held.The one end is the proposal and coordination of infrastructure protection at the EU level, and the other end is the repair and recovery of traffic at the attacked nodes.
Third, the North Stream case continues to pull.The Polish verdict has divided the way, and German and Italian-related cases are still in the process, and subsequent evidence collection and extradition will be more "hard core".
There are three main points of this round of turmoil:
Hungary, Slovakia to be safe and supply, the EU needs to give a visible line scheme and enforcement support.
The expression of the foreign ministry has a rhythm, and a sentence "growing hardship" is enough to be understood by the public, and the consequences are paid by the neighboring people.
What to do with the case? Beixi's judicial process does not wait for public opinion, and the three aspects of refusing to extradite representatives have to be filled in the chain of evidence, legal characterization, and jurisdiction.
conclusion
From Druzhba to the North Stream, from social media to ministerial screams, this Russian-Russian confrontation links "energy security, EU synergy, anti-Russian discourse".
Pipelines have to run, factories have to be opened, and residents have to use oil and gas. A thorny statement can swipe the screen. The only thing that can really maintain daily life is to leave line protection, restoration of supply, and judicial cooperation behind one by one.
What the EU sees and does about these three issues will be answered in the coming weeks.