Hungary and Slovakia are reaching out to Croatia for help in transporting Russian oil, as announced by Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. This request comes in the wake of a disruption of oil flows through Ukraine, which was reportedly caused by a missile strike on the Druzhba pipeline on January 27. The incident has sparked conflicting claims regarding responsibility, throwing the region's energy security into uncertainty.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga accused Russia of being responsible for the attack, sharing images of firefighters at a site he asserted was part of the damaged infrastructure. Sibiga criticized Hungary for its lack of public comment on the incident, implying complicity or silence in the face of Russian aggression. In contrast, Szijjarto refuted Ukraine's claims and insisted that political motives were behind Ukraine's decision not to resume oil transit through Druzhba, further complicating the geopolitical landscape of energy supplies in Eastern Europe.

This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by countries highly dependent on Russian energy, especially in light of the geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine. The request for assistance from Croatia signifies not only Hungary's vulnerability in its energy needs but also raises questions about collaboration among regional allies to mitigate the impacts of external hostilities on their energy supplies. As this issue unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these countries navigate their energy strategies amidst escalating tensions and economic impacts.