The Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, was damaged at the end of January. The European Union insists on the swift repair of this pipeline and the restoration of energy resource supplies.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for the Suspension of Transportation and Political Tensions
According to information provided by European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the halt in the transportation of Russian oil through the pipeline has exacerbated relations between Ukraine and EU members—specifically Hungary and Slovakia. The Ukrainian side reported that the disruptions in supplies since January 27 are related to an attack by a Russian drone.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested on February 15 that Ukraine is deliberately delaying the restoration of exports to influence Hungary’s position on Ukraine’s future EU membership. He stated that such actions constitute “political blackmail.”
Sanctions, Exceptions, and Alternative Oil Sources
The European Union has imposed a ban on the import of Russian oil through pipelines in response to the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, Hungary and Slovakia, which are landlocked, received temporary exemptions from the sanctions regime. On February 16, the Hungarian government also expressed its desire to take advantage of another exemption—for the import of maritime crude oil from Russia via Croatia through the Adria pipeline.
However, according to a study by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) published on February 16, Hungary has access to alternative oil sources and is not critically dependent on Russian supplies.
“There are no technical or economic grounds for continuing the sanctions exemption for Russian oil in Central Europe. Hungary’s ongoing dependence is a political choice that undermines EU unity and erodes trust in the sanctions regime. A gradual phase-out of Russian crude oil by the end of 2026 is feasible and necessary for Europe’s long-term energy security,” CSD reports.