After Hungary denounced “a scandalous attack”, Kiev told him that he can “send complaints” to Moscow. From what did the diplomatic gâlceava start
Peter Szijjarto, photo: Omer Taha Cetin / AFP / Profimedia
The Foreign Minister of Budapest, Peter Szijjarto, said on Monday that the Russian oil flow to Hungary was stopped after an Ukrainian attack on the Drujba pipeline, Reuters reports. In reply, Kiev said to send complaints to Moscow.
To be distinguished from most of the EU member countries, Hungary continued to rely on the energy from Russia, despite the invasion of Ukraine.
The country in Eastern Europe imports oil through Drujba, which passes through Belarus and Ukraine to reach Hungary and Slovakia.
Szijjarto announced on Facebook that he had discussed with the Russian Energy Minister, Pavel Sorokin, who transmitted that he works to restore the oil flow, but is unclear when the supply will resume.
“The more recent blow to our energy security is scandalous and unacceptable,” said the head of Hungarian diplomacy. Szijjarto did not specify when and where the Kiev's imputed attack took place.
The Budapest official accused Brussels and Kiev of trying to push his country in the Ukraine war, implicitly by what Szijarto calls the “increasing number of Ukrainian attacks on our energy security.”
“So let's be clear again: this is not our war, it is not our job, we do not want to put ourselves, and as long as we are in power, we will not get it,” said Szijjarto, specifying that “Hungarian electricity plays an important role in the power of Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sîbiha did not confirm, nor dismissed the accusations regarding the attack, but wrote on X that Hungary “can send his complaints” to Moscow, not to Kiev.
“Russia, not Ukraine, started this war and refuses to put an end to Hungary for years that Moscow is not a trusted partner. Despite this fact, Hungary has submitted all the EFOS to maintain the relationship with Russia,” wrote Sîbiha.
The Ministry of Defense of Kiev, the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ungara State Company Mol did not immediately respond to a comment request from Reuters.
Even the Slovnaft refinery in Slovakia, a country that receives oil through the Drujba pipe, did not comment on Szijjarto's statements.
Last year, the head of Hungarian diplomacy said that this oil pipeline remains the main route for oil imports.
Hungary imports about two million tons of oil delivered by Lukoil annually, through the Drujba pipe, the equivalent of about one third of Hungary's total oil imports
The suspension of the Monday's oil deliveries comes after the Ukrainian army last week stated on August 13 that its drones hit the Uniecha oil pumping station in the Russian Briansk region.
