Hungarian citizens who arrived in Ukraine allegedly for negotiations on the Druzhba oil pipeline do not have the status of an official delegation, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhii Tykhyi, said.
Oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline was disrupted earlier this year after Ukraine reported that infrastructure at the Brody pumping station had been damaged in a Russian attack. The pipeline carries Russian crude to several Central European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia.
“We know that this morning a group of Hungarian citizens entered the territory of Ukraine according to the general rules for all citizens of the Schengen zone, using the visa-free regime. Any persons with tourist purposes can enter Ukraine from Schengen countries in this way,” Tykhyi said, as quoted by Ukrainian media.
According to him, the group does not have official status and has no planned official meetings in Ukraine, meaning it would be incorrect to refer to them as a “delegation.”
“Citizens of other states who respect Ukraine and adhere to the general rules for visits, including for tourist purposes, may be present on the territory of Ukraine,” the spokesperson added.
Budapest’s response
Later on Wednesday, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto took to X to accuse President Volodymyr Zelensky of “lying.”
“Zelensky claims he was unaware that a Hungarian delegation would arrive in Ukraine because the Hungarian government did not coordinate the visit with the Ukrainian [Ministry of Foreign Affairs],” Szijjarto wrote.
“Here are the facts. Yesterday we informed the Ukrainian authorities in an official diplomatic note that a Hungarian delegation, led by Deputy Minister for Energy Gábor Czepek, would travel to Ukraine to inspect the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline. We also requested a meeting with the Ukrainian energy minister.”
Szijjarto went on to repeat its accusation that Ukraine has intentionally “blocked oil shipments to Hungary at a time when maritime oil transport faces the greatest uncertainty in history, while the only alternative to the Druzhba pipeline is the sea route.”
Reports of a “delegation”
Hungarian outlet Telex earlier reported that Hungary has sent a delegation to Kyiv to discuss the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline and hold talks with Ukrainian officials.
The so-called “delegation’s” aim was reportedly to hold discussions with Ukraine’s energy authorities, with ambassadors in Kyiv, and with a representative of the European Commission, the outlet reported.
The group of Hungarian citizens was reportedly led by Gábor Czepek, parliamentary state secretary at Hungary’s Ministry of Energy. It also reportedly included an oil industry expert, a government official experienced in international relations, and an energy market analyst. Hungarian oil company MOL also reportedly sent a representative.
The Druzhba pipeline
Before traveling to Kyiv, the group reportedly held consultations in Bratislava with Slovak energy officials and market participants. Slovakia had reportedly agreed to join the Hungarian initiative.
Hungary and Ukraine have been locked in a dispute over the Druzhba pipeline after infrastructure linked to the route was damaged during a Russian attack earlier this year.
Kyiv says the strike caused serious technical damage requiring lengthy repairs, while Budapest argues the issue has already been resolved and accuses Ukraine of blocking oil shipments for political reasons.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has increased pressure on Kyiv over the issue, including threatening to block EU financial support for Ukraine and limit electricity exports.
Orbán has also published satellite images that he claims show no technical obstacles to restarting the pipeline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that satellite imagery cannot reveal the condition of underground pipelines and said the Druzhba line suffered severe internal damage and cannot resume operations without repairs.