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Hungary and Slovakia Seek Choice Route for Russian Oil Amidst Pipeline Concerns
Hungary and slovakia are seeking assurances for continued access to Russian oil, requesting that Croatia allow the transit of Russian crude oil via the Adria pipeline. This comes after concerns arose regarding the reliability of oil supply through the Druzhba pipeline, with Hungary alleging Ukraine is intentionally disrupting flows for political reasons – a claim ukraine denies.
Hungarian foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on Facebook that Hungary and Slovakia jointly advocated for an exemption from EU sanctions to continue purchasing affordable Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. Szijjártó stated the exemption also allows for sourcing Russian oil by sea if pipeline transport becomes unachievable. He asserts that Ukraine is not resuming oil shipments through Druzhba for political reasons.
To secure alternative supply routes, Szijjártó, along with Slovakian Economy Minister Denisa Saková, have appealed to Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar to permit the immediate transport of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Adria pipeline, in accordance with EU regulations. Szijjártó emphasized that energy security should not be subject to ideological considerations and expressed hope that Croatia will prioritize supply security over political factors.
Both Slovakia and Hungary currently benefit from temporary exemptions to the EU’s sanctions regime,relying on pipelines originally built by the Soviet Union to supply their energy needs. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico recently stated, following talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Bratislava, that Ukraine is using the Druzhba pipeline as a political tool – an accusation Kyiv rejects. Reuters reported on this meeting.
The situation highlights broader concerns about energy security in Central Europe and the ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine on energy supplies. The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, including restrictions on oil imports, but has granted temporary exemptions to certain countries.