Hungary criticizes EU response to Druzhba pipeline disruption

Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on Tuesday criticized the European Commission's (EC) response to the disruption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, urging immediate resumption of deliveries.



Szijjarto said Hungary and Slovakia have been facing what he described as an "oil blockade" from Ukraine for nearly 50 days, and rejected suggestions that the issue was merely technical.



He argued that the situation was the result of a coordinated political action involving Kyiv and Brussels, and called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EC President Ursula von der Leyen to "stop the theater" and restore the pipeline's operation without delay.



The Druzhba pipeline is fully operational and capable of delivering crude oil to Hungary, he said, adding that Hungary has taken steps to mitigate the impact of the disruption, including increasing reserves, arranging alternative maritime deliveries, and strengthening regional energy cooperation, notably with Slovakia and Serbia.