Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Budapest will not endorse any European Union decisions favoring Ukraine until the country resumes oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. This declaration was made during a press conference prior to an EU Council meeting in Brussels on March 19.
When asked about Hungary’s potential support for a €90 billion loan to Ukraine from the EU, Orban emphasized that the decision hinges on Ukraine’s actions regarding oil supplies. He stated, “Hungary’s position is very simple. We are waiting for the oil, and everything else is just a fairy tale… We are ready to support Ukraine when we receive our oil, which they have blocked. Until then, no decision favorable to Ukraine will receive Hungary’s backing.”
“Without this oil, all households in Hungary and companies will go bankrupt. So, you understand that this is not a joke. This is not a political game. (Volodymyr — ed.) Zelensky must understand that this is not a game. This is an absolutely existential issue for Hungarians… Until then, we cannot support any pro-Ukrainian proposal,”
Orban added. He reiterated the necessity of oil for Hungary’s survival, indicating that a resumption of transit could lead to a new chapter in bilateral relations.
On March 17, President Zelensky confirmed in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa that Ukraine agreed to the EU’s proposal for financial and technical assistance to repair the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged by Russian military strikes.
The following day, a European official reported that a technical team from the EU was already in Ukraine and awaiting access to the pipeline. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy stated that access to strategic facilities is managed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Background on the Druzhba Pipeline Attack and Hungary’s Stance
On January 27, a Russian attack in Brody, Lviv region, damaged critical infrastructure. Naftogaz reported that the Russian military had targeted a facility linked to the Druzhba pipeline, causing a fire and halting technological processes at the site.
According to reports, the pipeline remains operational and is used for transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. On February 12, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga announced that oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline had been halted since January 27 due to the Russian attack, and Budapest was preparing to lodge complaints regarding transit issues.
Sibiga criticized Hungary for not expressing any protest to Russia about the attack, stating, “They could not even utter the word Russia. Double standards are evident.”
Both Hungary and Slovakia have announced a suspension of diesel exports to Ukraine until Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry clarified that Kyiv informed Budapest about the Russian attacks on the Druzhba pipeline and the resulting damages on January 27, asserting that accusations of delays in supplies are illogical.
The European Commission expressed a desire for Ukraine to restore operations on the Druzhba pipeline but noted that the decision must be made by Ukraine due to the risk of further Russian attacks.
On February 21, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Slovakia would halt electricity supplies to Ukraine on February 23 if Ukraine did not restore oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. Similar statements were made by the Hungarian government.
Ukraine has proposed that the EU utilize the Odessa-Brody pipeline as an alternative for oil supplies to the EU.
On February 27, Orban revealed that Hungary and Slovakia were establishing a joint investigative commission to assess the condition of the Druzhba pipeline. On March 11, it was reported that a Hungarian delegation, led by State Secretary Gabor Chepek, arrived in Ukraine to evaluate the pipeline’s condition and discuss the resumption of oil transit. However, Zelensky later stated that he was unaware of any such delegation’s arrival, as no arrangements had been made with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has conditioned Hungary's support for EU assistance to Ukraine on the resumption of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. This stance follows recent damage to the pipeline due to Russian attacks, complicating Ukraine's energy supply situation and its relations with Hungary and Slovakia.