Prevent Oil Transit From Russia, Hungary Accuses Ukraine Of Extortion

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke at the Hungarian parliament in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday (13/12/2023). (ANTARA/Xinhua/Attila Volgyi)

JAKARTA - In a press conference in Budapest, Friday, July 26, Hungarian Chief Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Gergely Gulyas, said Ukraine blackmailed Hungary and Slovakia "supporting peace and a ceasefire."

Earlier on Monday (22/7), Hungary and Slovakia jointly began a EU consultation procedure against Ukraine in response to Kiev's decision to stop the Russian oil company Lukoil's crude transit.

Gulyas said it poses a serious danger to the security of Hungary and Slovakia's energy.

According to Gulyas, "solutions must be found in September," or "Hongaria will begin to experience oil shortages."

"One of them is Ukraine admitting that they cannot do this to the two EU countries," Gulyas said, as quoted by Antara, Saturday, July 27.

"The second is the European Commission helping us, and the third is that we find a legal loophole that allows oil to be transferred by someone who is not affected by sanctions," he explained.

However, he assured the public that there was no need to worry because Hungarian oil reserves were abundant.

Earlier last week, Slovakia and Hungary said they had stopped receiving oil from major suppliers Lukoil after Ukraine imposed a ban last month on the delivery of resources from the Russian energy company through its territory.

Hungary receives 2 million metric tons of oil from the Russian group each year, covering about a third of its total oil imports.

Separately, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country would not be "hostile" in Ukraine-Russia relations.

Despite EU sanctions against mainland Russia, Hungary, and Slovakia continue to receive natural gas and oil through Ukraine.