Orbán remains adamant on Druzhba pipeline, says no oil means no money

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said Budapest will not change its position on financial decisions until oil supplies are restored via the Druzhba pipeline.

Source: Orbán in a video on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ukraine has accepted an EU proposal, under which the European Union will provide financial resources and expert support to resume oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.

Following this, Orbán said he had discussed the issue with European Council President António Costa and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Quote: "If there is no oil, there is no money. I said that Hungary's position remains unchanged."

Details: Orbán accused Ukraine of "not accepting" Hungarian "experts" who had travelled to inspect and assess the condition of the Druzhba pipeline.

"They do not agree and even openly declare that they have no intention of allowing cheap Russian oil to transit to Hungary," he added.

The prime minister said he views this "oil blockade" as an attempt to interfere in Hungary's elections in favour of the opposition Tisza party.

"So the situation is extremely simple. If there is no oil, there is no money," Orbán stressed.

Background:

• In a letter to EU leaders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to resume transit through the Druzhba pipeline within about one and a half months.
• Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Hungary will continue blocking the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and a €90 billion loan for Ukraine until Kyiv resumes oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline.

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