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Hungary will block a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) EU loan for Ukraine until it resumes oil shipments to the country via the Druzhba pipeline, its foreign minister said on Friday after Budapest said it would tap strategic reserves to tackle a shortage.

Hungary and Slovakia, which have the only remaining refineries in the European Union using Russian oil through Druzhba, have been trying to secure supply since flows were halted on January 27 following what Ukraine said was a Russian drone attack that damaged pipeline infrastructure.

Both countries have blamed Ukraine for the delay in restarting the flows for political reasons. Reuters requested comments from the Ukrainian foreign ministry and the state oil and gas company on Thursday.

"By blocking oil transit to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, breaching its commitments to the European Union. We will not give in to this blackmail," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on X.

The Hungarian government said in a decree late on Thursday that it would release about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil from its strategic reserves to make up for shortfalls.
Croatia's JANAF pipeline operator, however, said on Friday there was no need for Budapest to do so after Hungary's oil company MOL (MOLB.BU), opens new tab said JANAF must allow transit of the Russian seaborne oil during the Druzhba outage.

"At this moment, a significant quantity of non-Russian crude oil is being transported via JANAF's pipeline for MOL Group, while three additional tankers carrying non-Russian oil, also for MOL Group, are on their way to the Omisalj Terminal," JANAF said in a statement.

"There was no need to tap into (their) reserves since oil transport via the JANAF pipeline towards MOL's refineries is being carried out continuously and without delays."

SCRAMBLE FOR CRUDE SUPPLIES
MOL is entitled to priority access to released crude oil reserves, and it will have access to the freed reserves until April 15 and has to return them by August 24, the Hungarian government decree said.
At the end of January, Hungary had enough crude oil and petroleum product reserves to cover 96 days, according to data on the Hungarian Hydrocarbon Stockpiling Association's website.

As the two countries scramble to ensure supplies, MOL ordered tankers delivering Saudi, Norwegian, Kazakh, Libyan and Russian oil to supply its Hungarian and Slovak refineries and halted diesel deliveries to Ukraine earlier this week.
MOL said that first shipments were expected to arrive at the port of Omisalj in Croatia in early March. After that, it will take a further 5-12 days for the crude oil to reach its refineries.

The Slovak government has also declared an oil emergency situation and has pledged to release 1.825 million barrels of oil following a request from Slovakia's Slovnaft refinery, which is owned by MOL.

Source:https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/hungarys-government-release-250000-tons-crude-oil-strategic-reserves-2026-02-20/

That country that Putin has already captured or abother Hungary? They need to vote out the stooge called Orban.

Nice one from Hungary to to the world

Some Ukrainians may he cashing out with this war

Honestly this war has dragged on for so long I think the purpose is defeated now...even if Putin wins now at what cost and if EU keeps giving Ukraine loans they might have to recolonize Africa again else they risk becoming a third world continent.

All these loans Ukraine is collecting Not to invest in their economy...


But to fuel it's war machine when and how do they intend to pay back?


All these countries giving Ukraine loans aren't helping them but stinking them deeper into their grave

If the really want to help Ukraine they should give aids rather.

The war as dragged on too long postponing the inevitable isn't helping Ukraine!

If no be say all this countries including the so called super powers dey fear the effect of nuclear war. Third world war for don break out since. This days wars are fought in the air and on water. Don't think anyone will send soldiers to occupy anywhere. Also moving equipment and soldiers today is almost logistically impossible for war except it's an invasion. Sooner or later one county with AWOL

lol…las las na the EU go comot the comedian …there’s no return on their investment at all

CodeTemplar:
That country that Putin has already captured or abother Hungary? They need to vote out the stooge called Orban.

Orban is a sit-tight dictator like his Russian mentor Vladimir Putin and that is why they both hate Ukraine for practicing democracy that will most likely open their own people's eyes to start demanding for full democracy in near future

E.U never does anything free.

brain54:
All these loans Ukraine is collecting Not to invest in their economy...


But to fuel it's war machine when and how do they intend to pay back?


All these countries giving Ukraine loans aren't helping them but stinking them deeper into their grave

If the really want to help Ukraine they should give aids rather.

The war as dragged on too long postponing the inevitable isn't helping Ukraine!

Ukraine is the world's number one supplier of grains before Putin invaded, so when the war ends, they will bounce back and US plus EU and other sensible countries will help them with free funds to rebuild Ukraine.


Also, US and EU have already told Russia to forget about their over $100billion fund stashed in US and EU because it will be handed to Ukraine as part of the funds to rebuild Ukraine that Putin foolishly destroyed.



Some of the loans will also be written off on humanitarian grounds.

franchasng:
Ukraine is the world's number one supplier of grains before Putin invaded, so when the war ends, they will bounce back and US plus EU and other sensible countries will help them with free funds to rebuild Ukraine.


Also, US and EU have already told Russia to forget about their over $100billion fund stashed in US and EU because it will be handed to Ukraine as part of the funds to rebuild Ukraine that Putin foolishly destroyed.



Some of the loans will also be written off on humanitarian grounds.

I see...


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ukraine practicing Democracy
It seems you were born just yesterday after Putin invaded Ukraine.

Where were you and where was Ukraine democracy when a certain Viktor Yanukovych from the Donbas/Russian speaking area of Ukraine won the 2004 elections which were cancelled in Ukraine under pressure from the EU and USA?

Can you narrate how a duly elected President of Ukraine - the same Viktor Yanukovych was removed from power after winning again in the 2010 elections in your so called "democracy"?

franchasng:
Orban is a sit-tight dictator like his Russian mentor Vladimir Putin and that is why they both hate Ukraine for practicing democracy that will most likely open their own people's eyes to start demanding for full democracy in near future

So the Ukraine economy was only running on grains?
What about transit fees for Russian gas? Go and check how much it was contributing to the Ukrainian economy compared to grains.
Which country had the cheapest gas in Europe?
Was Ukraine not receiving gas at the cheapest price in Europe from Russia and selling it at higher prices to the EU?
Why do you think Ukraine had to bomb the Nord Stream pipelines?

That Russia money you are talking about in Euroclear in Belgium.
Belgium has already said that money belongs to Russia, is that not why they are giving this loan now to Ukraine.
Was there not a plan last month to remove the money and give to Ukraine?
What happened in that meeting?
Did even Macron not back out? What about Belgium where Euroclear is headquartered?
What was their take?

Oga, you are just trying to be clever by 1/5.
Oga, go and take the money by yourself and give Ukraine, nobody is stopping you and while you are at it, don't forget to write the loans off on humanitarian grounds.

franchasng:
Ukraine is the world's number one supplier of grains before Putin invaded, so when the war ends, they will bounce back and US plus EU and other sensible countries will help them with free funds to rebuild Ukraine.


Also, US and EU have already told Russia to forget about their over $100billion fund stashed in US and EU because it will be handed to Ukraine as part of the funds to rebuild Ukraine that Putin foolishly destroyed



Some of the loans will also be written off on humanitarian grounds.

franchasng:
Orban is a sit-tight dictator like his Russian mentor Vladimir Putin and that is why they both hate Ukraine for practicing democracy that will most likely open their own people's eyes to start demanding for full democracy in near future

What is the benefit of the useless democracy in Africa

Gaddaffi was a dictator but Libya was the best in Africa until the useless USA brought their democracy

He's a wise leader, he will not give in to blackmail, why should Hungary lose access to vital crude oil as they head into the winter in Europe simply because Ukraine went to fight their big brother.

CodeTemplar:
That country that Putin has already captured or abother Hungary? They need to vote out the stooge called Orban.

Orban - One of the very few sensible leaders in Europe

Cmanforall:
Some Ukrainians may he cashing out with this war

Some ke? Most of their military bigwigs and politicians are acquiring massive property in the US since this war began. The reports are on the internet. Every war puts huge money in the hands of some persons.

mastermaestro:
Some ke? Most of their military bigwigs and politicians are acquiring massive property in the US since this war began. The reports are on the internet. Every war puts huge money in the hands of some persons.

That’s terrible!

Why would the US allow such?

COMRADES, honestly, I don,t where this comedian is taking Ukrean to, 90 billion what? What is he going to do with such huge loan? Just to fund war?

Melagros:
COMRADES, honestly, I don,t where this comedian is taking Ukrean to, 90 billion what? What is he going to do with such huge loan? Just to fund war?

The amount of loans Ukraine is owing now is terrifying. It's already running in trillions of dollars.