Hungary Accuses EU of Blackmail Over Oil Supply Dispute

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the European Commission of blackmail concerning a dispute over blocked oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia. The issue stems from Ukraine placing Russia's Lukoil on a sanctions list, halting oil transit. The European Commission is investigating the situation and seeking information from both countries.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused the European Commission of blackmail in a dispute involving blocked oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia. Both nations oppose the European Union's arming of Ukraine.

The tension began in June when Ukraine sanctioned Russia's Lukoil, ceasing oil flows to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia owned by Hungarian oil and gas group MOL. In response, Hungary and Slovakia asked the Commission to pressure Kyiv to lift the sanctions.

Szijjarto criticized the Commission, accusing it of not acting to resolve the issue and suggesting it might have orchestrated the dispute. The Commission, which is currently gathering information from the involved parties, stated that oil from other Russian sources remains unaffected.