The war in Ukraine, collateral effects: Hungary remains without oil from the Russians. The Hungarians say that Ursula von der Leyen is aware of the Ukrainian actions

Bucharest, May 17, 2023 – The media from Kyiv announced the other day that Ukraine has “temporarily suspended” the supply of oil to Hungary through the Druzba pipeline, the state-controlled Russian media RIA Novosti said on November 15, citing the Russian state pipeline operator Transneft .
Hungarian oil company MOL said it had been notified by Ukraine that oil supplies through the Druzba pipeline had been temporarily suspended. Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented.
The Druzba network now ensures the transfer of a small amount of oil from Russia to Europe, Hungary being the only one without another supply option.
In Budapest, the scandal is unfolding in full swing.
According to local media, the oil and gas company of Hungary, MOL, was blackmailed by Ukraine. As a result, the oil company stopped talks with Ukraine. Every year, 8 million tons of oil reach Hungary. The Ukrainian president recently announced that there was an explosion in the Druzba pipeline system and the delivery of oil to Hungary is stopped.
The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade believes that Ukraine is taking hostile and threatening measures against Hungary, and therefore threatened that until Ukraine changes this, Hungary refuses to help the country fighting against Russian aggression.
At the Hungarian Embassy in Vienna, where he was on an official visit, the Hungarian minister stated that Ukraine is behaving more and more hostile towards Hungary and therefore the government is not in a position to support even the 11th sanctions package, nor the new 500 million euro funding provided by the European Peace Facility.
MOL executives do not want to negotiate directly with the Ukrainian side after Ukrtransnafta, which operates Ukraine’s pipeline network, blackmailed the Hungarian oil company, Hungarian media sources say. According to a previously leaked US intelligence wiretapping report, Volodymyr Zelenskiy “could destroy Hungarian industry”. The Ukrainian president cited pro-Russian sentiment as his reason. The declaration was made in mid-February 2023.
An anonymous member of the Hungarian government told the Hungarian publication Index that cabinet members were upset by Zelenski’s words.
The Friendship oil pipeline is of strategic importance for the Hungarian economy, as approximately 8 million tons of Russian oil arrive annually through the southern branch of the gas pipeline – which the Ukrainian president spoke about – so its loss would cause serious problems for the Hungarian economy.
According to the portal, MOL has been in continuous discussions with Ukrtransnafta, the operator of the Ukrainian pipeline network, regarding the transit fees, which the Ukrainian side intends to increase in two stages. On May 15, the CEO of the Ukrainian company sent a note in Russian to MOL, in which he said that he considers the restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products too strict and that Hungarians are not open to further relaxation of regulations. He also stated that he received a message from Ursula von der Leyen from Brussels that “If this is the attitude of the Hungarians, then do not hesitate to stop the transport of oil to Hungary through friendship”.
However, the CEO has indicated that he is open to further discussions.
According to Index information, MOL clearly considers the above to be blackmail, so they do not want to engage in direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side, because, according to their interpretation, in this case they would give in only to further blackmail.
According to the portal, the management of MOL informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, about all this – the “blackmail attempt”, and they also contacted the Hungarian ambassador in Kiev to take measures in this regard.
In anger, Zelenski wanted to harm the Hungarians by blowing up the Druzba/Prietenia pipeline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said the Druzba oil pipeline — mentioned in classified US intelligence reports obtained by The Washington Post — should be blown up.