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The Kyiv Independent

The Kyiv Independent

Orban’s arguments crumble in Lukoil spat with Ukraine

The Kyiv Independent
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Hungary accused Ukraine of “blackmail” and endangering its energy security.

Ukrainian sanctions blocked Lukoil , Russia ’s second -largest oil company, from transiting crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline in June .

Hungary and Slovakia were exempt from EU 's Russian oil sanctions in 2022 , which made up 65-70% of supplies to Hungarian oil refiner Mol and its Slovakian subsidiary Slovnaft in May 2024 .

Lukoil sanctions could be Kyiv flexing its muscles to its reluctant and hostile European neighbors, energy experts say.

Hungary , Slovakia , and Czechia were exempt from the EU ’s Russian fuel embargo in 2022 after Viktor Orban argued that the landlocked countries needed more time and money to adapt their infrastructure to non-Russian crude.

The Druzhba pipeline is a precarious option for Budapest , explained Makogon .