Hungary threatens legal action after Ukraine stops transit of Russian oil

This was reported by Magyar Nemzet. 

In Brussels, at a press conference of foreign ministers, Szijjarto commented on Ukraine's decision to ban the transportation of crude oil from the Russian company Lukoil through its territory, stressing that this route supplies not only Hungary but also Slovakia.

He stated that the issue of energy supply is not a political issue, but an infrastructure issue, and that the supply of oil to Hungary, in Szijjarto's opinion, cannot be physically solved without supplies from Russia, because there is no other alternative route of transportation, no other pipeline leading to Hungary from any other place that could supply sufficient oil.

"Thus, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have been exempted from EU sanctions on oil transportation. So it is obvious that Ukraine's decision fundamentally threatens the security of energy supply to Hungary and Slovakia. This is an unacceptable step on the part of Ukraine, a country that wants to be a member of the European Union, and with one decision it fundamentally endangers the oil supplies of two EU member states," the Hungarian prime minister said.

He believes that this decision of Ukraine violates the Association Agreement. Szijjarto stressed that in this case, the affected member state can immediately initiate a consultation procedure, where the European Commission is obliged to represent the member state or states, and if no agreement can be reached with Ukraine, it is possible to establish an arbitration court and conduct the procedure within forty days.

"Even if there is no solution, the European Union has the right not to fulfil the obligations in the association agreement (for example, granting duty exemptions). The matter is still at the consultation stage," he said.

• As a reminder, oil produced by the Russian company Lukoil has stopped being supplied to Slovakia and Hungary due to Ukraine's sanctions. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto said that Ukraine's decision was "incomprehensible and unacceptable".
• On Saturday, July 20, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke on the phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal, criticizing the inclusion of the Russian oil company Lukoil, whose oil was also used by the Slovak oil refinery Slovnafta, in the sanctions list.