Croatia has offered to bolster the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia by supplying oil via its Adria pipeline, following disruptions to the crucial Druzhba pipeline.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic confirmed that discussions are underway with both nations and the European Commission regarding the plan.
The Druzhba pipeline, which serves as the sole source of Russian oil for Hungary and Slovakia, was halted on 27 January after sustaining damage that Ukraine attributed to a Russian drone strike.
The European Commission stated on Wednesday that Croatia is currently evaluating the legal implications of importing seaborne Russian crude oil for onward supply through the Adria route.
Pipeline operator Janaf reported that a cargo of non-Russian crude is already being unloaded for Hungarian refiner MOL Group, with seven further deliveries anticipated by April.
Mr Plenkovic emphasised Croatia’s commitment, stating: “Croatia is here as a neighbour, partner and friend to ensure the energy security and smooth functioning of the economies of both Hungary and Slovakia.”
He added that the Adria pipeline possesses the capacity to transport up to 15 million tonnes of oil annually, sufficient to fully meet the requirements of both countries.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that he agreed with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico to set up joint Hungarian-Slovak committee to ascertain the state of Druzhba pipeline.
In a video on his Facebook page, Orban called on Ukraine’s President Volodimir Zelensky to grant access to Hungarian and Slovak inspectors and to restart the Druzhba pipeline.
Any Russian crude ordered for delivery to Croatia could face difficulty skirting US sanctions, which target Russia’s top oil exporters.
EU sanctions ban imports of seaborne Russian crude, but landlocked Slovakia and Hungary hold exemptions in the event there is a disruption to their piped supply.
Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of stalling repairs to the Druzhba pipeline for political reasons.
In retaliation, Hungary vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia this week and blocked a new EU loan for Kyiv, straining Europe’s pro-Ukrainian consensus on the eve of the Ukraine war’s fourth anniversary.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is facing the biggest challenge to his hold on power in 16 years in a parliamentary election on 12 April. He has cast the election as a choice between “war or peace”, saying his opponents would drag the country into the war in Ukraine.
Brussels wants to adopt a full ban on Russian oil imports by 2027, and plans to propose legislation on this in mid-April, just days after Hungary’s election.
Ukraine, meanwhile, says it is trying to repair the Druzhba pipeline and offered to arrange alternative routes to transport oil to EU countries via its Odesa-Brody pipeline, in a letter Ukraine’s mission to the EU sent to the European Commission, dated February 20 and seen by Reuters.
The European Commission spokesperson said the Commission understands Ukraine is ready to accelerate those repairs and that the EU is assessing the Odesa-Brody option.
