Hungary and Slovakia have jointly called on the European Commission to intervene after the Druzhba (Friendship) oil pipeline, which supplies both countries, was targeted for the third time in a short period by Ukrainian attacks inside Russia. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed the move on Friday, stressing that the strikes endanger energy security in Central Europe.
According to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, the most recent attack damaged the pipeline to the extent that crude oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia will be suspended for at least five days. Szijjártó argued that these strikes do not primarily harm Russia but rather jeopardize the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia, pointing out that the Druzhba line is essential for crude imports. ‘Threatening our energy supply and the resulting damage is unacceptable,’ he said.
He also criticized the European Commission for failing to respond to the three recent incidents, despite having pledged in January to protect critical energy infrastructure supplying EU member states. Together with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, Szijjártó sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, demanding concrete action to prevent further Ukrainian strikes on the pipeline.
‘Threatening our energy supply and the resulting damage is unacceptable’
The letter stressed that in its 27 January statement, the European Commission had recognized that safeguarding energy infrastructure is a security issue for the EU and promised measures to protect oil and gas pipelines, power lines, and related facilities. Hungary and Slovakia expressed disappointment that these commitments have not yet translated into protective action.
‘It is regrettable that in recent days Ukraine has carried out three attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, which plays a decisive role in ensuring our energy security. Without it, the physical supply of our countries is simply impossible,’ the joint letter said. The two governments also pointed out that the EU and its member states have provided Ukraine with hundreds of billions of euros in support, calling Kyiv’s actions completely unacceptable.
They concluded by urging the Commission to honour its commitments without delay and guarantee the security of energy supplies to EU member states.
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