Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto at Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary on July 21, 2024. Photo credit: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutters / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar said on Monday that his country is willing to help Hungary and Slovakia with their oil supplies, but that there is no justification for transporting Russian oil, EFE reported.
Susjnar rejected the request by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who had accused Ukraine of continuing to block the Drujba pipeline and asked Croatia to allow Russian oil to be transported to Hungary and Slovakia via the Adria pipeline from the Omisalj sea terminal in the Adriatic Sea.
The Croatian Minister of Economy rejected the request, but offered help from his country for oil deliveries from other sources, EFE wrote, according to Agerpres.
“We are willing to help them resolve this serious disruption, in accordance with EU law and OFAC (US Office of Foreign Assets Control) regulations. No one should be left without fuel,” he said.
Susjnar said that the Adria pipeline is ready, but that there is no technical excuse for an EU country to remain dependent on Russian oil.
“A barrel bought from Russia may seem cheaper to some countries, but it contributes to financing the war and attacks against the Ukrainian people. It's time to stop this war speculation,” the Croatian official said.
Hungary and Slovakia targeted Adria as an alternative to Drujba
Hungary and Slovakia had made this request to Croatia, as they accuse Ukraine of delaying the restart of the Drujba pipeline. Kiev said transit through the pipeline was suspended on January 27 following a Russian attack.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico claims that he has information according to which the pipeline has been repaired in the meantime.
The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs declared on Sunday that “the security of a country's energy supply must never be an ideological matter”.
“Therefore, we expect Croatia, unlike Ukraine, not to endanger the security of the oil supply of Hungary and Slovakia”, Peter Szijjarto had also said, a day before Zagreb rejected his request.
Hungary and Slovakia have found a route for Russian oil supplies as an alternative to shipping through Ukraine
Both Hungary and Slovakia benefit from exemptions from EU sanctions targeting Russian oil transported through pipelines. The two countries depend on Russian oil and gas and have fought European initiatives to cut off the flows as part of European efforts to cut Russian energy revenues, according to Reuters.
A European Commission spokesman confirmed on Monday that the EU was in close contact with Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia and confirmed that gas flows through the Drujba pipeline have been stopped since January 27.
