Only a part of Russian oil reaches Hungary after Ukraine blocked the transit of Lukoil oil via the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline. Russian sources say that this means a loss of 1.1 million barrels of oil per month. This amount is missing not only on the Hungarian market, but also on the Slovak market. In Hungary, the Danube refinery and in Slovakia the Bratislava refinery (both belonging to the MOL Group) are the end points of the Druzhba pipeline.

Ukraine’s decision to stop the transit of Russian Lukoil oil to Hungary is incomprehensible and unacceptable. Although temporary solutions have managed to stabilize Hungary’s oil supply, they will not work in the medium term. That is why a solution must be found quickly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stressed.

In addition, the politician noted that Hungary’s supply is basically secured from Russia via Ukraine through the Friendship pipeline. “Until now, the transit via Ukraine worked. There was a fair energy cooperation between the two countries.

In the past, Hungary has also very often helped Ukraine in various ways to secure the country’s energy supply, despite the rather difficult conditions.”

he underlined.

Related article

Foreign Minister in talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov

The Hungarian politician will meet Alexey Likhachev, CEO of the Russian nuclear company Rosatom, in Istanbul today.Read more

“For comparison, we were struck by the news that Ukraine has amended its legislation to prevent oil shipments from the Russian company Lukoil from going to Hungary via Ukraine,” he added, explaining that Hungary and Slovakia buy around two million tons of oil from the company annually.

“Therefore, this decision by Ukraine significantly threatens the security of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia in the long term.”

he warned. “We have informed the Ukrainian authorities that this is an incomprehensible, unacceptable and unfriendly decision on their part. They have shown their willingness to correct the situation, but somewhere along the way these efforts have stalled,” Mr Szijjártó said. “It is strange that a country striving to join the European Union is seriously endangering the energy supply of two EU Member States,” the Hungarian minister concluded.

Related article

Hungary seeks legal solution to restore Russian oil supplies

Ukraine’s tougher sanctions have effectively halted Lukoil’s oil shipments to Hungary.Read more

The Slovak Prime Minister called the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhalto hold him accountable for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to add Russian oil company Lukoil to the list of Ukrainian sanctions against Russia. Robert Fico pointed out to his Ukrainian counterpart that their move was not only unfriendly but also pointless, as it does not specifically harm the Russian economy, but some EU member states.

He stressed that Slovnaft, the oil refinery of the Hungarian MOL Group in Slovakia, receives 40 percent less oil than is needed for its operations.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Photo: Facebook

According to the Slovak politician, this is not only bad for Slovaks, but also for Ukrainians, as Slovnaft also exports processed oil products to Ukraine, covering 10 percent of Ukrainian needs.

According to the Slovak government office, Robert Fico has been in intensive talks with his ministers and the Ministry of Labor for days about possible solutions.

Related article

Oil giant MOL reportedly eyeing Romanian assets of Russian Lukoil

According to press reports, the Romanian state is “strongly opposed” to the deal.Read more

Via MTI, Magyar Nemzet; Featured image via Facebook/Szijjártó Péter