Hungary calls Ukraine’s decision to halt transit of Russian oil by Lukoil “unacceptable”

Hungary calls Ukraine's decision to halt transit of Russian oil by Lukoil "unacceptable"

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Ukraine’s decision to block the transit of oil from the Russian company Lukoil through its territory.

He expressed his opinion on July 22 at a press conference in Brussels, where he attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, as quoted by Magyar Nemzet.

Szijjártó noted that this route supplies crude oil not only to Hungary but also to Slovakia. According to him, the issue of energy supply is not political but infrastructural, and the supply of crude oil to Hungary cannot be physically solved without the supply of crude oil from Russia simply because there is no other alternative transportation route that can supply a sufficient amount of crude oil.

“Obviously, Ukraine’s decision fundamentally threatens the energy supply security of Hungary and Slovakia. This is an unacceptable step by Ukraine, a country that wants to be a member of the European Union and with one decision puts the oil supply of two EU member countries under fundamental threat,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister stated.

Szijjártó claimed that Ukraine’s decision allegedly violates the Association Agreement.

According to the minister, the affected state can initiate a consultation procedure during which the European Commission must represent the interests of the EU member country. However, if no agreement is reached with Ukraine, there is the possibility of starting an arbitration court and conducting a review within 40 days. If no solution is found, the EU has the right to refuse to fulfill its obligations under the Association Agreement, Szijjártó clarified.

Maria Nikolaenko

Ukraine Front Lines