2026-02-22 08:30
publication
2026-02-22 08:30
On Saturday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the recent decisions of the Hungarian and Slovak authorities after suspending deliveries of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. We call on their governments to cooperate constructively and act responsibly. The ultimatum should be given to the Kremlin, not to Kiev, wrote the Ukrainian ministry.
“Ukraine rejects and condemns the ultimatum and blackmail of the governments of Hungary and Slovakia regarding energy supplies. Such actions, in the context of massive and targeted Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and Moscow's attempts to deprive Ukrainians of electricity, heating and gas during extremely low temperatures, are provocative, irresponsible and threaten the energy security of the region,” it said.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that “the governments of Hungary and Slovakia are not only playing to the advantage of the aggressor, but also harming their own energy companies that supply energy on a commercial basis.”
The government in Kiev emphasized that work to restore the pipeline's operability is ongoing. “Ukraine also proposed alternative ways to solve the problem of supplies of non-Russian crude oil to these countries,” it was noted.
“In the face of baseless and irresponsible threats coming from Budapest and Bratislava in recent days, Ukraine is considering the possibility of activating the Early Warning Mechanism provided for in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. We call on the governments of Hungary and Slovakia for constructive cooperation and responsible behavior. The ultimatum should be given to the Kremlin, and certainly not to Kiev,” announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ukraine.
The Druzhba oil pipeline, the main route carrying Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia, has been out of service since late January 2026, when it was damaged by Russian attacks.
Budapest and Bratislava maintain that the authorities in Kiev are deliberately delaying the restoration of gas transport. According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Kiev's “political blackmail” is aimed at putting pressure on Hungary to meet demands regarding “support for the war, enabling the export of Hungarians' money to Ukraine and admitting Ukraine to the EU.”
In response to the interruption of supplies, Hungary and Slovakia released their strategic oil reserves, stopped the supply of diesel fuel to Ukraine and threatened to suspend the transmission of electricity and, in Hungary's case, gas. The head of Hungarian diplomacy also stated on Friday that Budapest will block the PLN 90 billion EU loan to Ukraine until the resumption of oil transit to Hungary.
Szijjarto also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of “deliberately jeopardizing Hungarian energy supplies, while Hungary plays a key role in Ukraine's energy security.” “A significant part of Ukrainian imports of gas, electricity and diesel fuel go through or from Hungary,” he explained. (PAP)
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