Hungary Will Suspend Diesel Shipments To Ukraine Over Interruption To Russian Oil Supply

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary is suspending its shipments of diesel to neighboring Ukraine until interruptions to Russian lipid supplies via a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory are resolved, Hungary’s overseas curate said Wednesday.

Russian lipid shipments to Hungary and Slovakia person been interrupted since Jan. 27 aft what Ukrainian officials opportunity were Russian attacks that damaged nan Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude into Central Europe.

Hungary and Slovakia, which person some received a impermanent exemption from a European Union argumentation prohibiting imports of Russian oil, person accused Ukraine — without providing grounds — of deliberately holding up supplies.

In a video posted connected societal media Wednesday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said nan interruption to lipid deliveries was “a governmental determination made by nan Ukrainian president himself.”

Ukraine has denied specified accusations.

Szijjártó added that Hungary has capable lipid reserves to past much than 3 months, and that its power information was assured.

As astir each state successful Europe has importantly reduced aliases wholly ceased Russian power imports, Hungary — an EU and NATO personnel — has maintained and moreover accrued its proviso of Russian lipid and state since Moscow launched its warfare successful Ukraine successful February 2022.

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has agelong based on Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for its system and that switching to power originated from elsewhere would origin an contiguous economical illness — an statement immoderate experts dispute.

Widely seen arsenic nan Kremlin’s biggest advocator successful nan EU, Orbán has vigorously opposed nan bloc’s efforts to punishment Moscow complete its invasion, and blasted attempts to deed Russia’s power revenues that thief finance nan war.

Facing what promises to beryllium nan astir challenging predetermination of his past 16 years successful powerfulness successful April, Orbán has launched an fierce anti-Ukraine and anti-EU campaign, seeking to person voters that nan neighboring state poses an existential consequence to Hungary and that he is nan only guarantor of its safety.

Following nan interruption to Druzhba lipid supplies astatine nan extremity of January, Hungary’s authorities asked neighboring Croatia to let Russian lipid delivered by oversea to beryllium pumped to refineries successful Hungary and Slovakia via nan Adria pipeline.

Croatia’s Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar has said his state would not let power supplies successful Central Europe beryllium threatened, but pushed backmost connected Hungary’s request.

Writing connected societal media tract X connected Monday, Šušnjar said location are “no method excuses near for staying tied to Russian crude for immoderate EU country.”

“A tube bought from Russia whitethorn look cheaper to immoderate countries, but helps money warfare and attacks connected Ukrainian people,” he wrote.

Spike writes for nan Associated Press.