Hungary, including Slovakia, is preparing to cut electricity and natural gas exports to Ukraine after the Russian oil transit through Ukraine was halted, with Kyiv claiming the pipeline was damaged by a drone attack.
Reuters reported that the head of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s task force said in a press conference on Thursday (19 Feb) that Hungary is considering stopping electricity and gas exports to Ukraine unless Kyiv resumes sending Russian oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungary and Slovakia, the only two EU countries still operating oil refineries using Russian oil supplied through the Druzhba pipeline, have been seeking to secure their oil supply ever since the transit was suspended on 27 July, with Ukraine claiming Russian drones damaged the pipeline.
The refineries plan to start using oil from state reserves, with the Slovak government approving a loan for 250,000 tons of oil on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Gergely Gulyás, head of Prime Minister Orbán’s task force, said the Hungarian government also approved the release of oil from strategic reserves after a request from the oil refining company MOL.
Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil transit for political reasons, and on Wednesday both countries announced they would suspend diesel oil exports to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary has taken a clear stance opposing Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union, while Hungary and Slovakia have maintained good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout nearly four years of war in Ukraine.
“We are also considering the option of suspending electricity and gas exports to Ukraine,” Gulyás said, adding that the Budapest government is coordinating steps with Slovakia unless Ukraine resumes crude oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also mentioned the possibility of suspending emergency backup electricity supplies to Ukraine on Wednesday.
“Further retaliatory measures will be taken if the Ukrainian government does not change its decision and continues to suspend oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline using false excuses,” Gulyás said.
According to data from ExPro, a Kyiv-based consultancy, Hungary and Slovakia are Ukraine’s largest electricity import sources, accounting for 68% of total imports in February. Hungary also supplies about one-third of Ukraine’s total gas imports currently.
Hungary revealed that it and Slovakia have requested the European Commission to enforce an exemption allowing both countries to purchase Russian oil transported by sea, despite EU sanctions banning member states from importing such oil.
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Source:reuters