EU moves to end Hungary, Slovakia exemptions on Russian oil imports

The European Commission is preparing to propose ending special exemptions that currently allow Hungary and Slovakia to continue importing Russian oil, in a move that could tighten the European Union’s sanctions regime against Moscow.

Speaking on March 16 after a meeting of EU energy ministers, European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen said the Commission would soon present a formal proposal, as per foreign media.

“The European Commission intends to present a proposal to ban imports of oil from Russia. There are currently sanctions, but two countries have exemptions, and we will present a proposal to change this situation,” he stated.

Jørgensen also emphasised that all EU member states should prepare for the potential introduction of a full ban on Russian oil imports.

The initiative builds on earlier measures. On January 14, it was reported that the EU’s 20th sanctions package includes a ban on services related to the trade of Russian oil.

The issue has been further complicated by disruptions in energy transit. Oil deliveries via the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia effectively stopped in mid-February 2026. Ukraine suspended the flow, citing the need for repair work following attacks on infrastructure. Kyiv repeatedly postponed timelines for resuming transit but has yet to restart operations.

The halt in supplies triggered a political response from Budapest. In reaction to the disruption, Hungary blocked both the adoption of the EU’s 20th sanctions package against Russia and the approval of a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine.

On February 26, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of causing economic harm to Hungary by halting the Druzhba pipeline, in a post published on social media.

By Tamilla Hasanova