Hungary and Slovakia demand EU action after Ukraine hits key oil pipeline again

Published connected 22/08/2025 - 15:04 GMT+2 •Updated 16:50

The Hungarian and Slovakian Foreign Ministers person written to nan European Commission calling for EU action to extremity Ukraine's continuing attacks connected nan Druzba lipid pipeline connected Russian territory.

The latest onslaught deed nan Unecha lipid pumping position successful Russia connected Thursday night. This is nan 3rd specified onslaught successful a week, efficaciously halting Russian lipid deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, which are still importing ample amounts of Russian oil.

"Given that successful nan past years, nan EU and its Member States person provided hundreds of billions of Euros' worthy of support to Ukraine, we find Ukraine's actions, which severely frighten nan power information of Hungary and Slovakia, wholly irresponsible," publication nan letter, signed by Hungary's Péter Szijjártó, and Slovakia's Juraj Blanár.

Ukraine did not officially admit striking nan lipid facilities. But Robert Brovdi, nicknamed Madyar (meaning Hungarian), who heads Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, posted a video connected his Telegram account, showing nan aftermath of nan latest bombing, pinch nan burning lipid station. He added a condemnation successful Hungarian calling connected Russians to spell home. The footage was wide shared connected societal media.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó wrote connected his X-account that lipid deliveries for some countries will extremity for astatine slightest 5 days. "Let’s beryllium clear: pinch these attacks, Ukraine is not chiefly hurting Russia, but Hungary and Slovakia," nan curate added.

The Druzhba pipeline delivers lipid from Russia to Central Europe done Ukraine and Belarus. Hungary and Slovakia are nan only EU personnel states still receiving piped Russian lipid astatine standard aft securing carve-outs from nan bloc's sanctions targeting exports of Russian oil.

Trump was angry astir nan attack

US President Donald Trump was speedy to respond successful a handwritten consequence to a connection of title astir nan attacks written to nan White House by Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban and published by nan Hungarian government.

"Viktor - I do not for illustration proceeding this - I americium very angry astir this. Tell Slovakia," Trump wrote successful artifact capitals, adding: "You are my awesome friend." 

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski replied connected X to a tweet by his Hungarian counterpart, claiming Ukraine wants to resistance Hungary into nan war.

"Peter, you person arsenic overmuch solidarity from america arsenic we person from you," Sikorski replied, referring to nan predominant vetoes of nan Hungarian authorities successful nan EU erstwhile it comes to nan support for Ukraine.

The European Commission thinks nan information of nan proviso of lipid is not successful danger

The European Commission confirmed connected Friday day nan receipt of nan letter. At nan aforesaid time, they reminded that each Member State is required to support emergency stocks of crude lipid and/or petroleum products adjacent to astatine slightest 90 days of nett imports. According to a spokesperson, this represents a information nett for nan Member States, and some Hungary and Slovakia person capable reserves. So far, neither of nan 2 countries has signalled nan usage of those stocks; therefore, nan Commission reiterates that location is nary effect connected nan EU information of supply.