Hungary is rushing to safeguard its energy security following Ukraine’s sanctions on Russian oil company Lukoil, and is in active discussions to guarantee alternative supply routes, according to the country’s top diplomat.
Szijjarto concerned over energy supplies
Despite protests from Budapest and Bratislava, the European Commission (EC) has
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) could be closing in on an energy standoff as Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to restrict or even suspend electricity supplies to Ukraine in response to its recent decision to halt crude oil transits of Russian supplier Lukoil, Hungarian state news channel M1 reported on
Bulgaria has extended a helping hand to Hungary in managing the fallout from Ukraine’s recent ban on the transit of oil from Russia’s Lukoil, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, announced in Bucharest, Romania, on Wednesday 24 July.
Szijjarto detailed how he and Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov had
Slovakia and Hungary have vehemently criticised Ukraine’s recent decision to halt the transit of Russian Lukoil oil to Hungary, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto describing it as “incomprehensible and unacceptable”.
These sanctions prevent Lukoil from renting the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline for transit purposes. As approximately 70% of the