EU calls emergency meeting after Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel supplies to Ukraine amid Druzhba pipeline dispute

The European Commission has convened an extraordinary meeting of its Oil Coordination Group for February 25, following a halt in diesel deliveries from Hungary and Slovakia to Ukraine and threats that they could cut off electricity and gas supplies if repairs to the Druzhba pipeline are not completed,  Euronews reported.

The two countries stopped fuel deliveries to the war-torn country after a Russian attack damaged the pipeline on Ukrainian territory. Both countries, heavily reliant on Russian crude transported through the Druzhba pipeline, accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying repairs for political reasons.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government said Ukraine is blackmailing Hungary and interfering in the election with plans to create an energy crisis. Budapest provided no evidence to support its allegations that Kyiv is deliberately delaying the restart of deliveries on the Druzhba pipeline.

The emergency meeting will include Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia.

Hungary requested that the EU facilitate the transfer of Russian oil via Croatia’s Adria pipeline as an alternative route to make up the shortfall, but Croatia has rejected supplying Russian oil through the Adria pipeline, despite Hungary's exemption from sanctions imposed by the EU and the US.

Zagreb said the pipeline has the technical capacity to handle additional shipments, but officials stressed that purchasing Russian crude, while appearing cheaper for some countries, helps finance the war.

Croatia claims said transport fees on the Adria pipeline account for only about 1% of the total oil cost, while MOL chairman-CEO Zsolt Hernadi claims Janaf is charging excessive fees and profiteering from the situation.

Lower Russian crude prices have helped MOL to book hefty profits in 2025. EBITDA, at current cost of supply and adjusted for one-offs, rose 6% to a whopping HUF1.2 trillion (€3.2bn), according to the earnings report released on February 20.

EU officials said they are in contact with Ukrainian authorities on the timeline of repairing this pipeline but stressed that they are not exerting any kind of pressure on the country.

The European Commission said both Hungary and Slovakia hold sufficient oil reserves and that their security of supply was not at immediate risk, but expressed concern about Ukraine's broader energy situation.

Orban's ally, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, declared an oil emergency on February 19 after the disruptions of the deliveries, while Hungary moved closer to releasing 250,000 tonnes of crude from the strategic reserves. This is roughly 40% of the total of 655,000 tonnes, enough to cover 96 days of imports. The decision was made at MOL's request.

Orban, at a press briefing in Washington, DC, after the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, said that Brussels must stand by its two member states against Ukraine in the dispute.

Under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Ukrainian actions must not endanger the energy security of any EU member state, he said.

On February 18, Hungary halted diesel deliveries to Ukraine and is considering halting electricity and gas deliveries as well. Hungary, while refusing to support Ukraine with weapons and soldiers, has provided substantive humanitarian aid to the country, the Hungarian prime minister said at the briefing. 

Hungary's electricity supplies to Ukraine constitute roughly 10% of its imports. As the country is already facing power shortages due to damage to its power lines, the measure could exacerbate the energy crisis.