Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of continuing to withhold oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline for the past 19 days, which he claims is detrimental to both Hungary and Slovakia. In a recent video message on Facebook, Orbán called for a peaceful demonstration scheduled for Sunday, urging participants to send a message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Orbán stated, “President Zelensky continues to keep the pipeline closed, despite knowing its critical importance to Hungary and Slovakia. Our experts have been in Kyiv for several days, but they have yet to gain access to the pipeline.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the global oil crisis exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East, asserting that affordable Russian oil could alleviate the situation. He criticized the European Union for maintaining restrictions on Russian oil imports, stating, “The Americans have already taken steps to lift sanctions. However, in Brussels, the hysteria continues. The European Commission and the German Chancellor are still upholding restrictions on Russian oil.”
Orbán also emphasized the significance of the upcoming peace march, inviting all citizens to participate. “Tomorrow is the Peace March. I urge everyone to join us. Let us stand against Ukraine’s blackmail. Hungary will not be a colony of Ukraine, and Zelensky will not command here,” he declared.
On March 11, a Hungarian delegation arrived in Ukraine to assess the situation regarding the Druzhba pipeline. However, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the delegation did not hold official status or have any planned meetings. Subsequently, a document surfaced confirming that the Ukrainian side had not agreed to the visit as Budapest had anticipated.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of blackmail over the Druzhba oil pipeline, calling for a peace march to protest the situation. He criticized the EU's stance on Russian oil imports while discussing the implications for Hungary and Slovakia.