Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called the Hungarians who arrived to inspect the Druzhba pipeline “tourists”

A group of Hungarian representatives who arrived to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline does not have official delegation status and is being treated by Kyiv as “tourists.”

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said.

He stated that a group of Hungarian citizens entered Ukraine under the visa-free regime.

“On the territory of Ukraine, this group of individuals has no official status or scheduled official meetings, so it is definitely incorrect to call them a ‘delegation,’” Tykhyi emphasized.

He said that, therefore, Kyiv considers the Hungarian officials “tourists.”

Earlier, Hungarian Energy Ministry State Secretary Gábor Czepek reported that a Hungarian delegation had arrived in Ukraine to check the condition of the Druzhba pipeline and discuss the terms for a possible restart. “It is absolutely clear to all of us that this oil belongs to the Hungarian oil company; it is Hungarian property,” Czepek said.

On February 12, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that a section of the Druzhba pipeline was damaged as a result of strikes and that transit to Hungary and Slovakia had been suspended. The European Commission is in contact with Ukraine regarding repairs to the pipeline.

In Europe, officials say there is no short-term threat from the lack of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, since both countries have sufficient reserves.

On March 5, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary would halt the transit of supplies to Ukraine through its territory until Kyiv restarts the Druzhba pipeline.