Hungary’s foreign minister Peter Szijjártó has stated the country’s energy supply remained “secure” despite Ukraine curtailing its oil supply.
Kyiv’s ban on Russian oil company Lukoil’s deliveries through the southern stretch of the Duzhba pipeline — which runs via Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary — had prompted fears of shortages in both Slovakia and Hungary.
Speaking on August 21, Szijjártó insisted that Budapest was managing the situation, and that shortages were not on the horizon.
“Hungary’s energy supply is secured despite the challenges that you are aware of,” the minister said on the side-lines of a cabinet meeting.
He also mentioned that the Hungarian Government was engaged in negotiations to ensure stable supplies in the long term.
The minister did not specify which country or countries might export oil to Hungary to compensate for the lack of Lukoil supplies, but said the negotiations were nearing completion.
“We can guarantee Hungary’s oil supply in the long term despite Kyiv and Brussels,” he insisted.
Ukraine is attempting to “blackmail” Slovakia and Hungary with an oil embargo over both countries’ positions on Russia’s invasion, Budapest has claimed. https://t.co/1x70to9fSR
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 26, 2024
Despite the announcement, Szijjártó acknowledged that Ukraine’s oil embargo had “caused serious challenges for Hungary,” which is reliant on Russia for between 70 and 80 per cent of its oil imports.
These issues are reportedly not impacting other fuels Hungary is importing from Moscow, with Szijjártó saying that his country’s gas supply via the TurkStream pipeline remained unaffected.
“Hungary’s gas supply is in order, it is in no way affected by the situation due to the spread of military actions between Russia and Ukraine to the city of Sudzha,” he said.
Regarding nuclear fuel, Szijjártó said supply was also uninterrupted, ensuring the long-term operation of the Paks Nuclear Plant in central Hungary.
He went on to again urge the European Commission to intervene, arguing that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement prohibited Ukraine from obstructing energy transit to European Union Member States.
“It is unacceptable that the European Commission has not taken any steps to protect Hungary and Slovakia from Ukraine’s boycott measures,” Szijjártó stated.
In June, Kyiv imposed sanctions on Moscow oil firm Lukoil, preventing the company from shipping its product via the Druzhba Pipeline, which passes through Ukrainian territory.https://t.co/F3t0c2sZoO
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 22, 2024
