For three weeks now, Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline from Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended, allegedly due to damage caused by Russian attack. Both Central European countries have appealed to the European Commission to allow oil transport through Croatia. Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of refusing to resume direct supplies for ’ideological reasons’.
According to Ukrainian officials, the disruption of oil deliveries through Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia followed a Russian attack on 27 January on infrastructure running through Ukraine. Both countries oppose EU’s efforts to phase out Russian energy imports. Budapest and Bratislava still buy large quantities of crude oil from Moscow.
Blockade for political reasons: Hungary’s minister
A few days ago, Hungarian and Slovakian governments said the pipeline had been repaired, yet flows have not resumed. Budapest and Bratislava accuse Kyiv of deliberately holding back supplies for ’ideological reasons’.
Both countries have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demanding that Brussels uphold what they describe as their ’legal right’ to receive Russian oil deliveries by sea. In the same time, Hungary and Slovakia called on Croatia to allow delivery of seaborne Russian oil. That should be done through the Adria pipeline which has its origin at Omišalj Oil Terminal on the Croatian coast.
“Hungary is not asking Croatia for a favor regarding the Adria oil pipeline but for compliance with binding EU rules in case pipeline transit becomes difficult or impossible,” wrote Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó on X. He also accused Ukraine of “blocking oil deliveries on the Druzhba pipeline for political reasons”.
Hungary, in particular, has had tense relations with Ukraine for a long time. Budapest refuses to supply weapons to Ukraine, has repeatedly attempted to block EU sanctions against Russia, and is vehemently opposed to Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
Diesel exports to Ukraine suspended
Hungary and Slovakia announced on Wednesday that they would suspend diesel exports to Ukraine. Both countries cited the need to secure their energy supplies to replace imports of Russian oil through the damaged Druzhba pipeline.
Slovakia’s government declared a state of oil emergency commencing Thursday, 19 February. Bratislava also said it would release 250,000 tonnes of strategic oil reserves at the request of the Slovak refinery Slovnaft.
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Diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine will not resume until the Ukrainians resume crude oil deliveries via the Druzshba pipeline to Hungary. – Péter Szijjártó, Hungaria’s Foreign Minister
Slovnaft (Slovakia’s main oil refinery) is looking for alternative sources of crude oil. Gabriel Szabó, company’s director, said shipments had been ordered from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Kazakhstan and Norway.
Hungary took a similar position. “Diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine have been halted. And diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine will not resume until the Ukrainians resume crude oil deliveries via the Druzshba pipeline to Hungary,” said Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
