"We are considering stopping gas and electricity exports to Ukraine, unless they resume the transfer of crude oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline. We are coordinating with Slovakia on this move," Gergely Gulyas, Chief of Staff to the Hungarian Prime Minister, said today.

Gulyas added that the Hungarian government has opened strategic oil reserves at the request of the national oil and gas group MOL. "We will implement further countermeasures if the Ukrainian government does not change its decision and continues to block the Druzhba pipeline with false justifications," he stated.

Pipelines at the Zsana gas storage facility, Hungary, in a 5/2022 photo. Photo: Reuters

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico previously raised the possibility of halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. "According to intelligence we have received, everything has been repaired, and the Druzhba pipeline is technically ready to transfer oil," he said.

Fico noted that the Slovak government decided to mobilize 250,000 tons of oil from national reserves for the Slovnaft refinery company to produce goods for domestic needs, confirming no shortage of petroleum products in the country.

Hungary and Slovakia are the two remaining countries using Russian oil supplied via the Druzhba pipeline. The system ceased operations on 27/1; Ukraine attributed the cause to Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) damaging pipeline infrastructure.

However, Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of delaying the resumption of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline for political purposes. Officials from the two Eastern European countries announced on 18/2 the suspension of diesel exports to Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly and strongly opposed Ukraine's potential accession to the European Union (EU). Hungary and Slovakia have maintained good relations with Russia since the Ukraine conflict erupted in 2/2022.

The Druzhba pipeline (blue). Graphic: Aspenia Online

According to Kiev-based consulting firm ExPro, Hungary and Slovakia supplied about 68% of Ukraine's imported electricity this month. Gas from Hungary accounts for one-third of Ukraine's current total imports.

Hungarian officials announced on 18/2 that they, along with Slovakia, had requested the European Commission (EC) to approve an exception allowing the two countries to purchase Russian crude oil by sea, despite the EU ban.

Russian oil purchased this way would be transported via the Adriatic pipeline, which passes through Croatian territory. However, the Croatian Ministry of Economy declared that its pipeline would not transport Russian oil products to Hungary and Slovakia.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, Reuters)