Economy 27 February 2026, 11:15am

Announcement after the phone call

In a video on Friday morning, Viktor Orbán announced that he had agreed with Robert Fico to set up a Hungarian-Slovak investigative committee to clarify the condition of the Friendship oil pipeline. He added that the committee's task would be to visit the site and see the situation for themselves.

I call on President Zelensky to allow Hungarian and Slovak inspectors to enter the country and to restart the Druzhba oil pipeline,

he said. According to him, Hungary and Slovakia are under an oil blockade.

In an interview with public radio station MR1 on Friday morning, the Prime Minister stated that Hungary must achieve the opening of the Druzhba oil pipeline by Ukraine. At the time, he indicated that, as soon as the interview was over, he would begin telephone consultations with the Slovakian Prime Minister to coordinate further joint steps.

The shutdown of the pipeline has caused tension between neighbouring countries for weeks. The transport of Russian crude oil to Slovakia and Hungary was interrupted last month. Ukraine claims that the shutdown was caused by a Russian drone strike that damaged the pipeline infrastructure in the west of the country.

Hungary believes that Ukraine is deliberately delaying the restoration of supplies

and, in response, is preventing the €90 billion EU loan package - which Hungary had previously agreed to, although it will stay out of the financing - from being released to Ukraine until its neighbour resumes crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline. Additionally, Hungary has halted diesel fuel exports to Ukraine and will not resume them until Ukraine restarts crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline.

Ukraine and several EU leaders argue that the extent of the damage and the security situation are making restoration significantly more difficult, while Russia continues to target the pipeline's infrastructure. However, according to a letter published by Politico, the situation could be resolved if Hungary could see this for itself.

Orbán wrote the following letter to European Council President António Costa:

"Dear President, I am writing you concerning the oil transfer via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary that is currently suspended.

It is the interest of Hungary to restore the transfer as soon as possible. Hungary is ready to constructively engage in all efforts that contribute to this objective. In this context, Hungary supports the idea of a fact-finding mission with the participation of experts delegated by Hungary and Slovakia to verify the status of the Druzhba pipeline. Hungary will accept the findings of such a mission.

I am fully aware of the political difficulties created by the delay in the implementation of the European Council conclusions on the financial support for Ukraine. My initiative also aims at facilitating the timely resolution of this issue."

Cover photo: MTI Photo/Prime Minister's Press Office/Vivien Cher Benko