Source: EURACTIV

The European Commission is being called in amid a prolonged stand-off between Ukraine and Hungary over a blocked Russian oil pipeline that now stalls an EU emergency loan, according to a diplomatic note seen by Euractiv.

Hungary and Slovakia, both led by pro-Moscow populist premiers, are the last EU countries sourcing their oil from Russia, via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. However, since late January, flows have been disrupted following Russian attacks that damaged key equipment, according to Kyiv. 

Budapest has lashed out, alleging that Ukraine is trying to influence the upcoming 12 April general election. Hungary first halted diesel exports to the besieged country before booking a €90 billion emergency loan late on Friday. 

In a fresh escalation, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a social media post on Saturday that Slovakia will halt emergency electricity deliveries to Ukraine on Monday if Kyiv does not resume oil supplies to Slovakia that day.

In a note to the EU executive, Kyiv says repairs on the pipeline are ongoing, offering instead to supply the two countries via its own oil infrastructure or seaports. Brussels ought to facilitate an “urgent resolution of the situation, in particular in communication with the concerned EU member states,” according to the note – dated 20 February – seen by Euractiv.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry had communicated the damages to the pipeline, as well as the possibility of alternative supply routes, to Hungary and Slovakia on 19 February, the note by the country’s mission to the EU added.

The EU’s Oil Coordination Group, which gathers representatives of all member states but not Ukraine, meets on Wednesday. In the run-up, Brussels has been urging calm.

“We are not seeing any short-term emergencies or risks to security of supply at the moment. Both Hungary and Slovakia have been maintaining the ninety days emergency oil stocks in reserve,” a European Commission spokesperson told reporters on Friday. 

“There is an opportunity next Wednesday for all the parties involved to take stock and decide on the next steps,” they added.

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces, with attacks reportedly intensifying in 2026. Ukranien authoriities say 217 strikes on energy facilities have been recorded since the start of the year. In January alone, Russia launched more than 6,000 attack drones, around 5,500 guided aerial bombs and 158 missiles of various types at infrastructure targets.

UPDATE: This story has been amended to include fresh threat from Slovak premier.

(aw)

< back