Hungary has taken a firm stance against Ukraine, vowing to block a critical 90 billion euro EU loan package until Kyiv resumes Russian oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of „blackmail” and of violating its EU Association Agreement by halting the flows, which stopped after a reported Russian drone attack on January 27. In response to the supply disruption, the Hungarian government has moved to tap into its strategic oil reserves, releasing approximately 1.8 million barrels to cover the shortfall for its refineries, which are among the last in the EU still reliant on Russian pipeline oil.
Despite Hungary’s actions, Croatia’s JANAF pipeline operator asserted there was no immediate need to dip into reserves, noting that significant quantities of non-Russian crude are already being transported to Hungarian refineries and that additional tankers are en route. The situation has escalated into a broader energy standoff, with both Hungary and Slovakia—whose refineries are also affected—blaming Ukraine for politically motivated delays in restoring pipeline flows. In solidarity, Slovakia has similarly declared an oil emergency and plans to release reserves.
The corporate response has been swift, with Hungary’s MOL Group securing alternative seaborne shipments from sources including Saudi Arabia, Norway, and Kazakhstan to supply its refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. However, these shipments are not expected to arrive until early March, with further transit delays anticipated. As a consequence of the crisis, MOL has already halted diesel deliveries to Ukraine, underscoring the widening ripple effects of the pipeline dispute on regional energy security and diplomatic relations within the EU.
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