Hungary will block the payment of €6.5 billion to Ukraine from the European Peace Fund until Kyiv permits the Russian company Lukoil to resume oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary.
This was announced by Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó in an interview with ATV News.
"Until Ukraine lifts the ban, forget about the €6.5 billion payment from the European Peace Fund," Szijjártó said.
"I have made it clear that as long as this issue remains unresolved by Ukraine, the payment of €6.5 billion in compensation for weapons from the European Peace Fund should be forgotten," he added.
Hungary and Slovakia purchase 33% and 40-45% of their crude oil from Russian Lukoil via Ukraine, Szijjártó noted.
Hungary and Slovakia have appealed to the EU to help persuade Ukraine to restore the transit of the major Russian oil supplier "Lukoil" to Eastern Europe.
Lukoil halted oil shipments to Hungary at the end of June 2024 after the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine expanded sanctions against the company.
