Hungary has suspended diesel shipments to Ukraine, citing interruptions to Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of deliberately blocking supplies, a claim Kyiv denies, attributing pipeline damage to Russian attacks. This move by Hungary, an EU and NATO member, comes amidst its continued reliance on Russian energy and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's defiance of EU sanctions against Moscow.
Orbán, facing a challenging election in April, has adopted an anti-Ukraine and anti-EU campaign. While Hungary asserts it has over three months of oil reserves, the dispute highlights the complex energy politics in the region.
Slovakia is also affected by the Druzhba interruption. Hungary's request for Croatia to facilitate alternative Russian oil deliveries via the Adria pipeline was rejected, with Croatia emphasizing the need to move away from Russian crude.
This suspension compounds energy challenges for Ukraine, already grappling with Russian attacks on its infrastructure.
