Hungary fights for oil with Kiev and Brussels

Hungary has a policy that does not like Kiev. They do not supply weapons, they do not pass arms supply through their territory, they block Ukraine's contacts with NATO and EU funds for it.

They are besides angry at Bankowa erstwhile Viktor Orbán says that Ukraine is financially “no longer in existence”, let alone Viktor Orbán's visits to the Kremlin (https://myślpolska.info/2024/07/10/peaceful-mission-victor-orbana/ And Russian oil and gas are inactive flowing through Ukraine, through a pipeline called “Friendship” (in Russian Дружба, in Hungarian Barátság), which does not fit the current situation. So Kiev utilized this advantage and after respective warnings – he hit. In June, sanctions were extended to the Russian Łukoil group so that it could not send oil through Ukraine. It was declared direct: revenge. president Zelenski's adviser, Michał Podolak, explained that the behaviour of Hungary has brought harm to Ukraine, so they had the right to respond that way, and "war is war, it has a negative effect on those who look at it differently than the remainder of the European Union." And Russian supplies are 2/3 of Hungarian needs and Łukoil is the largest oil exporter for Hungary and Slovakia.

Hungary first played a spectacular match with the European Commission. abroad Minister Péter Szijártó warned that “this is simply a fundamental threat to the energy safety of Hungary and Slovakia. This is unacceptable!” Prime Minister Fico threatened Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmygal that Slovakia would not be a hostage to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, so it could block supplies produced from Russian diesel oil, and this is essential in the war. It did not help, so on 22 July Hungary and Slovakia asked the European Commission to launch an urgent mediation procedure with Kiev, as Ukraine's decision violates association agreements with the Union.

The force was gradually increased, the EU Council, Szijjártó, announced that "as long as the problem does not resolve, Ukraine can forget about €6.5 billion from the Union for arms transfers". And then, in public, he asked Ursula von der Leyen why the Commission had done nothing for a week? And he provoked himself – either the Commission is besides weak to defend the interests of the associate States, or everything was set up in Brussels to blackmail non-war countries.

The Commission has, of course, refused to initiate urgent consultations, in its view there is no direct (worth mentioning this word) safety risk, no evidence of oil shortages. And she has besides asked on behalf of “many afraid associate States”, why has Hungary and Slovakia not yet cut off from Russian oil after 2 years? It is hard to defy the impression that Brussels and Kiev played this spectacle hand in hand to punish the insubordinate. The performance for the performance, in Péter Shijjártó's response, shouted on Facebook "skandal, this proves that Ukraine can afford anything against the associate State of the Union, especially those who are behind the peace and do not deliver weapons".

After proving what was to be proven, The Hungarians rapidly settled the problem. Behind the scenes of public proof of right continued serious negotiations. Already at the very beginning, they guaranteed themselves that as long as the oil of Łukoil stopped flowing, the deliveries did not change at all – others continued to send it with friendship. Operatingly, the supplier was changed, but it was just a "fast ball", now it was essential to defend itself in the long run.

In early September, a breakthrough was announced, MOL concluded a contract with Łukoil that he took ownership on the Belarusian border. Now, as Hungarian oil, it will flow through Ukraine, which will now be harder to hit Hungary's interests. But they're going to gotta do their best. The sound of discontent is coming from Washington.

Finally, Péter Szijártó announced that relationship would be the primary origin of oil and Belarus an crucial link in its transit. And the Ukrainians asked them to avoid "one-sided and unexpected actions" in the future, as "Hungary is the largest energy supplier for Kiev". And winter is coming and it won't be easy (https://myślpolska.info/2024/05/20/happy-energy-retaliation/

Andrzej Szczęsniak

Think Poland, No. 47-48 (17-24.11.2024)