Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó arrived in Belgrade to discuss how Hungary can help Serbia after the suspension of crude oil deliveries from Croatia. His visit comes amid growing concerns in Serbia, following President Aleksandar Vučić’s warning that the NIS refinery in Pančevo could halt operations within days unless US sanctions are lifted, potentially disrupting fuel supplies at the start of winter.
The United States imposed sanctions on the oil company NIS last month as part of broader measures targeting companies linked to Russia over the war in Ukraine. In response, Croatia stopped the flow of crude oil through its pipeline network, forcing Serbia to urgently seek alternative supply routes.
Szijjártó stated that Hungary intends to support Serbia in managing the crisis. He emphasized that Serbia is facing a serious situation and that Budapest is ready to assist both the Serbian economy and its citizens while working out the practical details of such cooperation. In October, Szijjártó had already suggested that the oil company MOL would increase shipments to Serbia, though he did not specify quantities or logistical details.
At the same time, Serbian media reported that MOL was examining the possibility of purchasing an 11.3 percent stake in NIS from Russia’s Gazprom. MOL declined to comment, calling such reports market speculation.
Hungary has been working on plans for a new pipeline connection with Serbia that could potentially cover all of Serbia’s crude oil needs by 2028. The proposed link would have a capacity of four to five million tons of Russian crude per year, transported into Serbia via Hungarian territory.
After the joint press briefing, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić said the talks centered on accelerating the construction of new oil and gas pipelines to strengthen energy security for both countries. He noted that relying on a single supply route is no longer sustainable in the current geopolitical climate. Szijjártó added that Hungary would finalize the technical arrangements for supporting Serbia’s energy supply during his visit and stressed that Serbia would not be left without essential fuel supplies.
