Hungary’s government has welcomed a deal by energy company MOL to ensure the continued supply of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline after Ukraine restricted transit. In July, Hungary and Slovakia raised concerns over Ukraine’s move to block Russian energy giant Lukoil from using the pipeline, which runs through Ukrainian territory.
MOL announced that it reached an agreement that secures oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia. The deal allows MOL to take ownership of the crude oil at the Belarus-Ukraine border, ensuring compliance with EU sanctions while maintaining oil supply. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs emphasized that the agreement resolves the technical issue but stressed the need to address the political tensions surrounding energy security.
In 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on Russian oil, but the Druzhba pipeline was exempted to allow landlocked Central European countries time to find alternative sources. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains the only EU leader to maintain close ties with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This situation highlights the complex dynamics of European energy security, political relationships, and the ongoing effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
