Bulgaria has offered to help Hungary cope with the difficulties arising from the ban on the transit of oil across Ukraine. This transpired from a post on Facebook by Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

“Bulgaria, as a true friend and reliable transit country, is helping to ensure the security of Hungary’s energy supply,” wrote Peter Szijjarto who is in charge of the country’s international trade. In his post on Facebook he has posted photographs with Bulgaria’s caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov. “Last year, 5.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas arrived in Hungary via Bulgaria according to schedule, and this year we were able to buy 3.9 billion cubic meters,” Peter Szijjarto adds. “We agree that the EU has to support the energy security of the countries of Southeastern and Central Europe by contributing to the development of the infrastructure,” Peter Szijjarto notes.

Ukraine decided to terminate the transit of oil supplied by Russia’s energy company Lukoil, as a result of which Hungary and Slovakia no longer have access to the requested quantities of oil. Meanwhile, at a sitting of the foreign policy parliamentary committee it was made clear that Hungary has assumed the commitment to resolve the problem of Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen area by land quickly.