Orbán and Fico push EU to scrap sanctions, restart Russian oil flows immediately

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have once again joined forces to urge the European Union to abandon its restrictions on Russian energy imports, arguing that Europe is heading towards a severe energy crisis.

Following a phone call between the two leaders, Fico said Brussels must “return to common sense” by reopening dialogue with Moscow and allowing member states to source oil and gas from all available routes, including Russia. He also called for immediate action to restore flows through the Druzhba (Friendship) oil pipeline, a crucial supply route for Central Europe.

The latest appeal comes as energy prices across Europe have surged due to fresh geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran.

Fico: national governments cannot solve this alone

In a strongly worded social media statement, Fico said the worsening energy emergency “cannot be tackled only at national level,” echoing Orbán’s long-standing criticism of EU sanctions policy.

According to the Slovak prime minister, both governments are working to shield their economies and citizens from what he described as the European Commission’s “ideological blindness and incompetence,” while also blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the ongoing disruption to Russian crude deliveries through Ukraine.

Fico went further by demanding that the EU lift what he called the “absurd” sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports and launch a separate initiative aimed at bringing the war in Ukraine to a quicker end.

Druzhba pipeline once again at the centre of the dispute

At the heart of the latest row is the Druzhba pipeline, one of Europe’s most important oil arteries, which supplies refineries in both Hungary and Slovakia.

The pipeline has faced repeated disruptions in recent months, with Budapest and Bratislava increasingly accusing Kyiv of failing to ensure stable transit. Ukraine, however, has disputed these claims and pointed to war-related damage and security risks affecting infrastructure.

For Hungary, the issue is especially sensitive. Despite the EU’s broader drive to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels, the country still relies heavily on pipeline crude, particularly for the Százhalombatta refinery.

If you missed it: PM Orbán demands immediate end to Russian energy sanctions

Hungary and Slovakia remain EU outliers

Orbán and Fico’s joint position further highlights how Hungary and Slovakia remain among the EU’s most Russia-friendly governments on energy matters.

While most member states have sharply cut Russian imports since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Budapest and Bratislava have consistently argued that landlocked Central European economies need more flexibility and time.

Their renewed lobbying effort is likely to intensify tensions in Brussels, particularly as discussions continue over future sanctions packages and Europe’s long-term energy diversification plans.

Did you know?

The push by Budapest and Bratislava to restore Russian oil and gas imports comes as Moscow’s war against Ukraine continues to exact a deadly toll on civilians. On Saturday morning, a Russian drone struck a busy market in the southern Ukrainian city of Nikopol, killing five people and injuring at least 19 others, according to Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office, which described the attack as “yet another war crime committed by the Russian Federation.”

Nikopol, located on the Dnipro River opposite Russian-occupied territory, has been repeatedly targeted throughout the war, but the latest strike has again underlined the human cost behind Europe’s geopolitical energy debate. Images released by Ukrainian authorities showed shattered kiosks, twisted metal and debris scattered across the market area, while further Russian drone attacks overnight reportedly involved nearly 300 drones across multiple Ukrainian regions.