Ukraine to Resume Russian Oil Transit to Hungary via Druzhba Pipeline

Hungary's strategic maneuvering has paid off, securing the resumption of Russian oil supplies through the vital Druzhba pipeline. Minister János Boka announced that Ukraine will restart transit on Tuesday, a move that ensures continued energy security for Hungary and its refineries, including those operated by MOL.

“

The most likely scenario is that the Ukrainian side will announce the resumption of the pipeline's operation on Tuesday around noon.

The halt in supplies since January 21 had forced Hungary to tap into its strategic reserves, highlighting the nation's vulnerability to external disruptions. Boka's statement, however, frames this as a victory for Hungarian diplomacy. He explicitly linked the pipeline's reactivation to Hungary's earlier decision to block a significant EU loan package for Ukraine, asserting that Budapest's leverage ultimately compelled Kyiv to restore the oil flow.

“

If Hungary had not blocked the 90-billion-euro EU loan for Ukraine, oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline would never have been resumed.

"If Hungary had not blocked the 90-billion-euro EU loan for Ukraine, oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline would never have been resumed," Boka stated, underscoring the effectiveness of his government's assertive stance. "Hungary's strategy worked: the Ukrainians ran out of money before we ran out of oil." This narrative positions Hungary as a shrewd negotiator, capable of protecting its national interests even amidst complex geopolitical pressures. The resumption of oil transit is thus presented not merely as a logistical necessity but as a testament to Hungary's successful foreign policy.

“

Hungary's strategy worked: the Ukrainians ran out of money before we ran out of oil.