Both countries said they needed to ensure reliable energy supplies to compensate for the cessation of Russian oil imports through the damaged Druzhba pipeline.
Meanwhile, Hungary also accused Ukraine of political blackmail and interference, euronews reported.
“Diesel supplies to Ukraine have been stopped. And they will not be resumed until the Ukrainian side restores crude oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said.
Both Hungary and Slovakia claim to have sufficient fuel reserves, but intend to divert diesel to domestic markets. Minister Szijjártó noted that Ukraine had the necessary resources and time to repair the pipeline and that the refusal to restore it was a political decision.
“Political” oil pipeline
Not only that, sources say that the pipeline has long been repaired and Ukraine is simply not opening the valve. “The fact that Ukraine is not resuming oil transportation to Hungary is a political decision made by the Ukrainian president himself,” Szijjártó added.
In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fitzo’s government announced similar measures. The state-owned Slovnaft refinery will suspend diesel exports to ensure that domestic supplies are prioritized. In addition, Slovakia has allocated 250,000 tons of oil from its emergency reserves.
“Slovnaft will stop exporting diesel to Ukraine and any other supplies abroad. Everything that will be refined in Slovakia is exclusively for the Slovak market,” Fico said.
Hungary and Slovakia have also urged the European Commission to allow Russian oil to be transported through Croatian ports to Hungary and Slovakia. Croatia had earlier rejected the request, saying such shipments could violate U.S. sanctions.
On Tuesday, the European Commission said the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia was not at risk, citing sufficient oil reserves in both countries.
