Hungary says it "gives Ukraine 3 days" to unblock Druzhba oil pipeline

The Hungarian government has given Ukraine three days to resume the transit of russian oil or allow a group of inspectors to enter the country to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline, Hungarian Energy Ministry State Secretary Gábor Czepek said. His words were quoted by the RTRS television and radio channel on Friday, March 6.

Czepek said that Hungary has formed a group of experts to study the facts related to the Druzhba pipeline. According to him, this is the main supply route for Hungary, through which the country receives 5 million tons of oil annually.

"I have sent a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine with a request to either restore the pipeline's operation within three working days or allow an inspection of the incident site and conduct an expert assessment at the Brody substation. Kyiv must agree to this in accordance with its obligations to the European Union," Czepek emphasized.

According to Hungarian sources, the Druzhba pipeline has long been repaired, and the Ukrainian leadership is allegedly blocking the pipeline solely for political reasons will end the Ukrainian blockade of the Druzhba oil pipeline by force.

On March 3, Orbán appealed to the European Commission to influence Ukraine to resume oil transit, which stopped in late January due to damage to infrastructure caused by russian shelling.