Hungary, Slovakia seek European Commission's intervention in oil transit dispute

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has announced that Hungary and Slovakia have formally requested Ukraine to engage in consultations mediated by the European Commission (EC).

This request comes in response to Ukraine's suspension of Russian oil transit, which has caused significant concern for the two neighboring countries, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Szijjártó revealed that despite assurances from the Ukrainian Foreign Minister that oil transit has not been prohibited, the situation remains unresolved.

"The Ukrainian foreign minister claimed that there was no prohibition on oil transit, but this assertion is not accurate," Szijjártó stated.

He added that the EC has a three-day deadline to address their request, after which Hungary and Slovakia will consider taking legal action.

In late 2022, Ukraine began suspending the transit of Russian oil through its territory, which significantly impacted the energy supply to several European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia. This decision was part of a broader response to Russia's ongoing military actions and geopolitical maneuvers. The suspension was a strategic measure that Ukraine implemented in the context of escalating tensions with Russia and its broader energy policy adjustments.

The transit routes in question are critical for transporting Russian crude oil to refineries in Central and Eastern Europe. For countries like Hungary and Slovakia, which heavily depend on Russian oil, this suspension posed a significant challenge, disrupting their energy supplies and raising concerns about potential shortages.

Ukraine's actions have been controversial and have sparked diplomatic tensions. Ukraine has stated that the suspension was necessary due to operational issues and security concerns, rather than a deliberate political move. However, the affected countries argue that the suspension violates existing transit agreements and threatens their energy security.