Ukraine plans to double the transit price of crude oil flowing from Russia to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic through the Druzhba pipeline. Many say that is Ukraine’s revenge on Hungary.
According to the Argus news agency, the pipeline’s operator, the Ukrtransnafta, would like to double the transit price again. The sources of the Kommersant Russian news outlet confirmed that information. The new price will be EUR 27.2/tonne from 1 April. Experts believe buying Russian crude oil will remain worth more for Eastern European consumers than other alternatives.
Kyiv says the reason is the growing price of infrastructure rebuilding. They regularly need to mend the pipeline because of the intensive Russian attacks. If the Ukrainians accept the plan, this will be the second significant increase this year. Before, the price grew by 18.3 percent to EUR 13.6/tonnes.
Sources of the Kommersant talk about a relationship between Kyiv’s decision and the Hungarian government’s political stance concerning the war and the purchase of Russian energy like crude oil.
But Hungary has to pay more even for the transit of Arab oil flowing through the Adria pipeline from Croatia’s Krk island.
Hungary MPs want reassurance before vote on Sweden’s NATO accession
Hungarian MPs are waiting for reassurance from Swedish government members in order to be able to support Sweden’s NATO accession with a large majority, similarly to Finland’s accession bid, the prime minister’s political director said on Sunday. Balázs Orbán told public radio that “it is clear as day that we support Sweden’s accession, with the government having already passed a decision, and it is now up to parliament, but there is a little problem”. “Some Hungarian MPs do not feel comfortable because they have witnessed in recent years that certain Swedish government members made a habit of continually questioning the state of democracy in Hungary, they kept insulting Hungarian voters and MPs, and through them the whole of Hungary,” he said.
Orbán said Hungary did not want to take a position in matters of Swedish domestic political affairs and expects the same from Sweden concerning Hungarian issues. “Hungarian MPs are waiting for reassurance that there are no political debates between them anymore and there are no problems with the basics of Hungarian-Swedish cooperation,” he added. In the case of Finland, there is a “unique historic friendship and alliance,” he said. “It seems that we have managed to get reassurance from the Finns that these problems will not persist in the future” but in the case of Sweden, there is a different situation, he added.
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Commenting on the Russian-Ukraine war, he said there would be only losers in this war and Europe’s as well as Hungary’s interest lied in a ceasefire and peace talks to start as soon as possible. Commenting on the armed conflict, which was the highlighted topic of the European summit this week, he said Hungary supported the proposals on developing defence cooperation so that member states could protect themselves against any form of military threat. However, it refuses to allow weapons from Hungary to make their way to the Ukrainian-Russian frontier as a result of this cooperation, he added.
“We support the joint acquisition of weapons but only the Hungarian army and Hungarian soldiers will receive them, so we maintain the principle that we do not participate in the conflict by way of arms deliveries,” he said.
Read alsoExpert: Hungary endangers the NATO, the alliance will use force
Source: MTI, index.hu
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10 Comments
Well the Russians bombing and blowing up the infrastructure of Ukraine and they have to fix it from thier own pocket I think it is fair to say prices will rise.. and to compound the problem the price of material and wages would also compound it.😉
And not political reasons 🙄.
Still we all want every thing for nothing and do nothing to get it..
Can oil not be transported through Bulgaria and Serbia? Ukrainian pipelines should be omitted if possible.
Since at 2014 Ukraine kills their own people amd bombs their own country. The entire world turned a blind eye. MSM did not mention it. Isn’t it time to start talking about ceasefire and peace or is it the hidden agenda that sacrifices Ukraine and the EU because the USA needs to controll the entire world?
Isn’t it strange the only thing Ukraine demands is weapons and money? Weapons sold on the dark web and money used to buy villas in Switzerland and many other countries?
So, Finland now gets a pass, and Sweden doesn’t? Wasn’t Finland super critical as well (and our Politicians of them…)? I recall Mr. Tuomi-Nikula, the former Finnish ambassador to Hungary, stating that we are “one of the most corrupt … in the union”. The Finns, under their presidency of the EU, also aggressively pushed forward the procedures concerning the rule of law in Hungary (at the instruction of the Members).
Methinks our Politicians don’t want to be the last to approve Finland or Sweden’s NATO membership – and Turkiye is about to approve Finland. We’d look like right t/ts if we were all alone, not approving a new NATO Member. People will remember.
Re pricing for transit – Ukraine is a Sovereign Nation – our Politicians always respect Sovereign decisions and do not meddle in other country’s affairs. Rule by example.
Found the link –
https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/16646-hungary-and-finland-continue-to-exchange-verbal-jabs.html
Curious as to how this is different from Sweden. Anyone?
The US has sent over 100 BILLION to Ukraine and funds 90% of NATO.
Why don’t you ask the US ambassador to HU if there are any plans for peace talks.
i nstead of piling up the bodies. China to negotiate a peace is not news to DNH,
but the price of ice cream is.
Not seeing the 90 percent NATO funding by the USA, @TM – what is your source?
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/nato-spending-by-country
https://www.nato.int/cps/us/natohq/topics_67655.htm
China has it’s own reasons for promoting a peace plan. Nobody is opposed to peace, however it’s not an easy question. Recommended read: https://www.dw.com/en/could-the-us-and-china-bring-peace-to-ukraine/a-65139174
It is true that Ukrainian infrastructure was bombed and taken out from commission, that is no reason Hungary should pay for rebuilding Ukraine. Hungary remained neutral, joined by Austria and now Bulgaria. One by one, other nations will join the group that advocates peace rather than war expansion.
Checked old newspapers, it seems that Sweden was actually not as hostile against Hungary under the Russian occupation of the country as they are against a conservative government. Sweden has an axe to grind, Hungary did not allow hordes of illegal migrants to occupy the country. Hungary has no “no go zones, no bombings and an increase of rape of women”. So, let Sweden spew its hate and let Hungary veto Sweden’s ascension.
@mariavontheresa – Ukraine is a sovereign country. Why should it not be able to set rates as it sees fit?
Oh – and no response regarding how Finland is different from Sweden … Even better (you’d think): the Sweden Democrats are now the second largest party in the Swedish Riksdag. They tout similar “values” to our Politicians, yet still support the current government coalition under the Tidö Agreement.
Perhaps Turkiye announcing they would approve Finland’s membership (and we’d look like right t/ts if we were the last hold out) is the real reason.
Oh. Regarding Sweden and rape – this may be of interest:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/rape-statistics-by-country
Sweden stands out for a reason – and it’s not pillaging hordes of immigrants
Also a good read – broader. If anything take a look at the graphic on Page 3,:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/739208/EPRS_BRI(2022)739208_EN.pdf