Hungary will block all solutions in the EU that are beneficial to Ukraine until the transit of Russian oil is resumed
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on March 3 called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to ensure the implementation of agreements that oblige Ukraine to allow oil transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline, because he considers the reaction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyі to Hungary’s calls to resume transit unacceptable.
“Until President Zelenskyі returns to common sense and normality, we will not support any solution that is beneficial to Ukraine,” Orban wrote on the X social network.
In the letter, he claims that Ukraine has refused attempts by Hungary and Slovakia to resolve the conflict diplomatically, including rejecting the proposal to allow an inspection to check the operability of the oil pipeline.
Orban called Zelenskyі’s reaction “cynical,” noting that Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Fico did not thank Ukraine for supporting the Druzhba pipeline under constant Russian attacks.
Russian oil supplies via Druzhba have been suspended to Hungary and Slovakia since January 27 after Russia shelled the pipeline near Brody, Lviv region. Ukraine explains the lack of transit by damage and the need for repairs, which are being delayed due to enemy attacks. At the same time, the leaders of Slovakia and Hungary, the only ones in the EU still receiving Russian oil, accuse Kyiv of political reasons for stopping supplies and in response blocked diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine.