It has only been three weeks or so since Russia bombed a pumping station on the Druzhba Pipeline near Lviv, Ukraine. Apparently, Hungary and Slovakia expect Ukraine to prioritize restoring the service of the product that funds the invasion of their country over other concerns. Both countries’ leaders, Viktor Orban and Robert Fico, have also kept up friendly relations with Russia and have blocked sanctions against Russia and funding for Ukraine. I will be glad if both of those leaders are elected out. Orban is facing an election in April and trails in the polls to Peter Magyar. If Orban is re-elected, clearly the EU will have to do something about his ability to stop EU plans, including changing its rules if necessary. These leaders have had four years to diversify their energy supplies and have clearly not done enough to do so.
Secretary of State Marco
Rubio recently visited Orban and Fico, basically to show MAGA's approval of
them. In 2019, then Senator Rubio co-wrote an open letter to President Donald
Trump, warning him about “the steady erosion of freedom, the rule of law and
quality of governance” in Viktor Orban's Hungary and pointed to Budapest’s
strategic alignment with Moscow. An article in the Washington Examiner points
this out and says the U.S. should stop indulging these leaders. Another
important thing said in the article is that while Germany, once also strongly
dependent on Russian hydrocarbons, has made significant efforts to find other
sources. By comparison, Orban and Fico have dragged their feet as well as
getting a reprieve due to their dependence. Hungary still imports 90% of its natural
gas from Russia and 92 % of its oil, up from 61% in 2021. That is, frankly,
shameful, and a slap in the face to Ukraine and efforts to pressure Russia.
Hungary also has other deals and investments with Russia, including a new
nuclear plant.
Both Orban and Fico have
become star performers at CPAC. Orban is credited with stopping immigration
into his country, but also has one of the worst economies in the EU and a
shortage of labor that immigrants could help alleviate. Others in Fico’s own
party do not share his views, apparently. The article describes Fico as a:
“Soviet nostalgist with little genuine affection for the
United States.”
“The idea that Hungary and Slovakia, especially under
their current governments, should be privileged interlocutors or models for
others to follow is laughable. Their size and relative influence aside, the
leaders of both countries see the world through lenses that rarely prioritize
the trans-Atlantic partnership over other, more transactional ties.”
Hungary and Slovakia have
just announced plans to cut diesel export supplies to Kyiv if Ukraine does not
reopen the Druzhba pipeline, which brings Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary.
Ukraine sent a letter to the
EU Coordination Group on February 25, noting:
"Full responsibility for the suspension of oil
transit through the Druzhba pipeline lies solely with the Russian Federation as
a consequence of its terrorist attack against Ukraine's critical
infrastructure," the letter says.
Ukraine pointed out in the letter that as a result of
targeted Russian attacks on 27 January, key facilities of the main oil pumping
station near the town of Brody in Lviv Oblast were significantly damaged,
including technological and auxiliary equipment of the Druzhba pipeline.
Quote: "We draw attention to the unacceptability of
ultimatums and political pressure by certain member states, including threats
to suspend diesel fuel and electricity supplies or to block EU assistance and
sanctions against the Russian Federation."
The letter also explained
that they are working to restore service, although one should hardly see that
as a priority for a country under attack every day for the past four years:
"the Ukrainian side is interested in restoring
transit as soon as possible within the available legal framework".
As noted below from an
article in Ukrainska Pravda, the EU Oil Coordination Group determined that
there was no immediate threat to the EU’s energy security as a result of the
pipeline being offline. It also notes some of the shameful threats and
punishments of Ukraine by these leaders.
References:
Ukraine
sends its position on Druzhba pipeline to EU: Ultimatums are unacceptable. Tetyana
Vysotska, VALENTYNA ROMANENKO. Ukrainska Pravda. February 25, 2026. Ukraine
sends its position on Druzhba pipeline to EU: Ultimatums are unacceptable
The US
should stop indulging Hungary and Slovakia. Dalibor Rohac and Ivana Stradner,
Washington Examiner. February 25, 2026. The
US should stop indulging Hungary and Slovakia
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