Hungary Blames Ukraine for Halting Druzhba Pipeline Access

(MENAFN) Hungary has accused Ukraine of halting Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline for political reasons, despite the infrastructure being fully operational, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday. He added that Kiev has refused a proposed trilateral meeting with Hungary and Slovakia to address the issue.

The Ukrainian authorities have prevented oil from reaching Hungary and Slovakia via the pipeline that passes through Ukraine, citing alleged damage from Russian strikes—claims Moscow denies. Both Budapest and Bratislava have accused Kiev of using the supply disruption as leverage, and they assert that Brussels has sided with Ukraine rather than supporting the affected EU member states.

“It has become really obvious that there is no technical or physical reason for the oil supply not to be restarted to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline,” Szijjarto said at a press briefing in Brussels, calling the decision “a pure political decision.”

He further noted that a trilateral meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, initiated by Hungary and Slovakia in Brussels, was “cancelled again by the Ukrainians.” Szijjarto highlighted that Kiev has rejected all efforts by Hungary, Slovakia, and even the EU to conduct an on-site inspection of the pipeline’s condition.

MENAFN17032026000045017640ID1110871703