Hungary’s Szijjártó Criticizes EU Proposal to Restore Ukraine Oil Supplies

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has voiced strong opposition to a European Union proposal aimed at restoring oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline, which have been disrupted due to the conflict in Ukraine. Szijjártó characterized the proposal as a “political game” and criticized the timing of the EU’s response.

Szijjártó expressed his concerns on the social media platform X, stating that the European Commission had taken nearly 50 days to acknowledge the “oil blockade” affecting Hungary and Slovakia. He accused the EU of agreeing to the situation with both Kyiv and Brussels prior to addressing the issue. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, has been a vocal critic of EU policies related to Ukraine.

Demands to Ukraine and the EU

The Hungarian Foreign Minister directly appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging them to “stop this political theater” and immediately lift the “oil blockade.”

Ukraine’s Proposal and Hungary’s Stance on Sanctions

On March 17, Ukraine reportedly accepted an EU proposal to secure financial resources and technical assistance to facilitate the resumption of oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline. President Zelenskyy pledged to restore transit through the pipeline within approximately a month and a half.

However, Szijjártó has indicated that Hungary will continue to block the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and a proposed €90 billion loan for Ukraine until Kyiv restores oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. This stance underscores Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian energy and its reluctance to fully align with the EU’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine.

Recent Activity

In February 2026, Szijjártó spoke to the press before the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. Stock photos of Peter Szijjarto are readily available.