Hungary could face a fuel and energy crisis within weeks due to Lukoil oil transit suspension. through Ukraine by decision of Kyiv. This opinion was expressed by Ilona Gizinska, an employee of the think tank Center for Eastern Studies, in a material published for Politico.
„Ukrainian measures can create a serious situation”, noted the expert. She believes that if Budapest fails to resolve the current situation, then in just a few weeks the inhabitants of Hungary may face “incredibly high energy prices and electricity shortages”.
The share of Russian oil in Hungary's energy balance reaches 70%. Half of this volume was previously supplied by Lukoil. According to Gizinska, Budapest can now get more oil from non-Russian companies through the Adria pipeline coming from Croatia, or use national strategic reserves.
Previously, Ukraine stopped the transit of Lukoil oil through its territory to Hungary and Slovakia due to its blacklisting by Kiev. Energy supplies from the Russian Federation to these countries are carried out through the “Druzhba” pipeline, passing through the territory of Ukraine.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said that Budapest considers these actions of Kiev unfriendly and will raise the issue of them on July 22 at a meeting of the EU Council at the level of foreign ministers in Brussels. The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, had a telephone conversation with the Head of the Government of Ukraine, Denis Shmygal. He told him that Bratislava “does not intend to be a hostage to Russian-Ukrainian relations” and stressed that Kiev's decision could lead to the suspension of supplies to Ukraine of diesel fuel produced by Slovnaft, which accounts for about 10% of the total amount of consumption of the post-Soviet republic.