Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the alleged Ukrainian assault on the pipeline ‘outrageous and unacceptable.’
Hungary’s foreign minister criticized Ukraine on Aug. 18, alleging that Kyiv was behind an attack that choked off Russian crude oil to Hungary.
“Ukraine has again attacked the petroleum pipeline to Hungary, cutting off supplies,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a social media post on Monday. “This latest strike against our energy security is outrageous and unacceptable!”
The pipeline in question, known as the Druzhba or “Friendship” Line, has multiple branches and passes through Ukraine to provide Russian crude oil for several European nations, including Hungary.
The Hungarian foreign minister had accused Ukraine of targeting the Druzhba Line a week before via a drone attack on a key distribution station. This latest disruption came just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump and other European leaders to discuss how to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Following this latest disruption, Szijjártó said, he spoke with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, who informed him that efforts were underway to repair a transformer station needed to restore the oil flows.
Szijjártó and other Hungarian leaders have repeatedly criticized the West’s support for Ukraine in its fight with Russia.
In July of last year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Ukraine to reach a cease-fire agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a speech before the United Nations in October, Szijjártó said the Western strategy of sanctioning Russia and supplying Ukraine with weapons has failed.
As he concluded his statement on the latest disruption to the Druzhba Line, Szijjártó said that Hungary wishes to remain neutral.
“Let me be clear: this is not our war. We have nothing to do with it, and as long as we are in charge, Hungary will stay out of it,” he wrote
“Finally, a reminder for Ukrainian decision-makers: electricity from Hungary plays a vital role in powering your country….”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to Szijjártó by criticizing the amicable relations between Hungary and Russia.
By Ryan Morgan
