Hungary has said it will block the European Union’s next sanctions package against Russia unless oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine resume, escalating tensions between Kyiv and two of its neighbours.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest would not support decisions “important to Kyiv” while oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline remains suspended.
“Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow decisions important to Kyiv to move forward,” Szijjarto wrote on X.
The Druzhba pipeline, a vital route for Russian crude, supplies Hungary and Slovakia, making its operation crucial for regional energy security.
Operations have been halted since late January following Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to restore oil transit contrast with accusations from Slovakia, emphasising the complex challenges Ukraine faces amid the dispute and energy crisis.
The dispute has triggered a series of retaliatory announcements:
- On February 18, Hungary and Slovakia said they would halt diesel exports to Ukraine.
- Hungary subsequently blocked a proposed €90bn EU financial support package for Kyiv.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia could suspend electricity exports to Ukraine if oil transit is not restored.
Hungary and Slovakia together accounted for more than half of Ukraine’s electricity imports in January, as the country grapples with an energy crisis caused by repeated Russian attacks.
The European Union had planned to adopt its 20th sanctions package against Russia on February 24, marking four years since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However, sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states — giving Hungary effective veto power.
Ongoing divisions within the EU over balancing support for Ukraine with energy and economic interests highlight the complexities of achieving a unified sanctions policy and the significance of internal consensus.
