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Hungary to obstruct EU funds for member states till Ukraine permits Lukoil transit

Hungary will obstruct European Union refunds for member states that provided munitions to Ukraine until Kyiv allows the transit of oil from Russia's Lukoil through a pipeline over its area, the Hungarian foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Slovakia and Hungary

said

earlier this month that they had stopped getting oil from Lukoil through the Druzhba pipeline after Ukraine enforced a ban last month on the transit of resources from Lukoil.

Likewise in response to the situation on Tuesday, Hungary's. energy ministry convened a working group worrying the security. of supply, which reviewed the actions taken so far and possible. next steps, a statement by the ministry read.

As long as this issue is not dealt with by Ukraine,. everyone ought to ignore the payment of the 6.5 billion. euros of the European Peace Facility (EPF) settlement for arms. transfers, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was quoted as. saying by broadcaster ATV.

Ukraine's foreign ministry did not instantly respond. to an ask for remark. Kyiv states it has actually obstructed oil from. Lukoil however total flows have actually not been decreased through the. pipeline, which likewise serves other providers.

The Druzhba, or friendship, oil pipeline connecting. Russia to former socialist bloc states in eastern Europe has. stayed functioning through more than two years of war, even as. the EU weaned itself off most other sources of Russian energy. products. Hungary in specific has remained significantly reliant. on Russian oil and states it can not provide its refineries without. it.

Hungary and Slovakia asked the European Commission on. Monday to mediate a consultation procedure with Ukraine. The. treatment would enable the concern to go to court unless the EU. executive body acts within three days.

The EPF, developed in 2021, operates as a cashback plan. that offers EU members refunds for sending out munitions to other. countries.

Considering that Russia's intrusion of Ukraine in 2022, member. states that offered weapons to Ukraine can ask for payment. from this fund. But Hungary has been obstructing the disbursement. of the next tranche of EPF money for more than a year, citing. different concerns.

(source: Reuters)