Overview
- Russian crude flows to Hungary via Druzhba have been suspended since January 27, and the dispute remains unresolved.
- Viktor Orbán told Ursula von der Leyen he will oppose EU decisions benefiting Ukraine until transit resumes and proposed on‑site inspections with Slovakia.
- Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó cited satellite images to claim no technical obstacle exists and framed the halt as an attack on Hungary tied to the opposition ahead of April elections.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy said repairs were hazardous with workers wounded, argued resuming shipments would finance Russia’s war, and dismissed satellite imagery as insufficient to assess underground damage.
- Vladimir Putin and Orbán spoke about Hungarians captured while serving in Ukraine and energy risks, as Budapest also halted diesel exports to Ukraine and blocked a €90 billion EU loan.