Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally rejected Hungary’s proposed visit to the Druzhba oil pipeline, citing a lack of prior agreement on the visit’s terms. The Ukrainian government responded to Budapest’s notification regarding the visit by Gabor Cepel, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Energy, indicating that the suggested dates were unacceptable.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s response, the proposed schedule for the visit did not align with diplomatic protocols. The ministry suggested that Hungary coordinate new dates through official diplomatic channels.
The backdrop to this diplomatic exchange includes Hungary’s earlier announcement of intentions to visit Ukraine to discuss the operational status of the Druzhba pipeline and assess its condition. However, on March 11, a group of Hungarian citizens entered Ukraine without official status or scheduled meetings, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to express his lack of awareness regarding their presence in the country.
Following these developments, Hungary’s Foreign Minister accused Zelensky of dishonesty and released a Hungarian note indicating that Budapest had requested a meeting between Cepel and his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal. In response, Ukrainian presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn remarked that official visits should be based on mutual agreements rather than unilateral notifications.
Ukraine has rejected Hungary's proposed visit to the Druzhba oil pipeline, citing unacceptable terms. The exchange reflects ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations regarding energy cooperation.