Ukraine says Hungary invented trilateral talks on Druzhba pipeline

No agreements were reached on holding trilateral consultations with Hungary and Slovakia regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline, and Budapest is trying to accuse Ukraine of rejecting a meeting that the Hungarian side itself invented.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said this in response to questions from journalists, according to Ukrinform.

"It is impossible to refuse something that was never planned – especially something that is being pushed at the last minute as an 'actual agreement'," Tykhyi said.

He added that "this has already become a typical Hungarian style – they imagine something themselves and then accuse us."

In this context, Tykhyi recalled that on Saturday, March 14, a detailed briefing for diplomats was held at Naftogaz. Among representatives of 31 countries attending the event was the Hungarian ambassador.

During the briefing, full information on the state of the Druzhba pipeline was once again provided to all partners, including Hungarian representatives, Tykhyi said.

Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that Ukraine had "refused" to participate in trilateral consultations with the energy ministers of Slovakia and Hungary that were allegedly scheduled for Monday, March 16.

Szijjarto also told journalists ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on March 16 that Hungary would block EUR 90 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine and the EU's 20th sanctions package until the issue of oil transportation through the Druzhba pipeline is resolved.