Overview
- Oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba line has been down since Jan. 27 after damage near Brody, and Brussels says supply security is covered by reserves as it seeks clarity on repairs.
- Budapest and Bratislava suspended diesel exports to Ukraine, with Slovakia declaring an oil emergency and releasing up to 250,000 tonnes from state stocks to keep Slovnaft running.
- Both governments asked Croatia to route seaborne Russian crude through the Adria pipeline, and MOL expects initial deliveries no earlier than March subject to sanctions compliance.
- Slovakia’s Robert Fico threatened to halt emergency power supplies to Ukraine and Hungary signaled it could suspend gas and electricity exports, while Kyiv rejects claims of political blocking.
- European diplomats say Hungary and Slovakia have lodged a “general reserve” that could delay the EU’s next Russia sanctions package until their oil access is assured.