Hungarian Prime Minister Rejects 'Carpathian Eight' Format and Ukraine Oil Storage Project

MOSCOW, September 22. /TASS/. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar used a village football team example to explain to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga why Budapest rejected the Kiev-backed "Carpathian Eight" regional format. Magyar also stated that the Hungarian government would block the construction of any oil product storage facilities for Ukraine on its territory.

TASS has compiled the key details known so far.

Hungary’s refusal to participate in Carpathian Eight

Speaking in the Hungarian parliament, Magyar stated that the country did not join the "Carpathian Eight" format promoted by Kiev, which involves Ukraine and several Eastern and Central European nations. He noted that while Hungary had been invited, it did not participate in the initiative, citing "valid reasons" for the decision.

Commenting on Sibiga’s statement, Magyar remarked that "declaring a sovereign country a member of an international organization – the 'Carpathian Eight' – without prior consultation or that country's consent is completely unacceptable."

Magyar illustrated Budapest's refusal to join the Kiev-backed format using a village football team analogy: "Let me give you an example: 'Hello, we’ve formed a football team from the neighboring village. We don’t know each other, but you’re on the team--and you have to bring the ball, too.' "

Refusal to build a petroleum storage facility for Ukraine in Hungary

Magyar stated that the memorandum of understanding regarding the construction of a petroleum product storage facility for Ukraine on Hungarian territory – signed by Hungarian company MOL and Ukraine’s Naftogaz – will not be implemented. The memorandum "stated that this was merely a theoretical possibility," he noted.

Earlier, Naftogaz had posted a message on its Telegram channel regarding plans to build an oil storage facility in Hungary near the Ukrainian border. Magyar also reported that negotiations on this matter had been initiated by MOL with Ukraine and the US with the authorization of Hungary's previous government.

However, no progress was made beyond the signing of the memorandum of understanding, and no further agreements were reached. Magyar recounted that he had discussed the issue with MOL CEO Zsolt Hernadi on September 20. The Prime Minister made it clear that, going forward, he expects actions to be coordinated with the country's new government, given that the state still holds a 25% stake in the company.

Kiev's reaction

Kiev is surprised by Magyar's statements regarding Budapest's refusal to join the "Carpathian Eight" format promoted by Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga said. According to a statement by Sibiga cited by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Kiev is surprised by the Hungarian Prime Minister's remarks concerning Ukraine.

Sibiga also described them as "unjustifiably confrontational," adding that the "reasons for such a categorical refusal by Hungary" remain unknown to Ukraine. He also called Magyar's statements regarding the prospects for cooperation between Ukrainian and Hungarian energy companies "strange."

Recent statements from Budapest have left Kiev confused, Sibiga said. According to him, "one gets the impression that, although Viktor Orban has left, his policies <…> continue to flourish."

Expert opinion

Relations between Budapest and Kiev have not become trouble-free following the change of government in Hungary, Ilya Grashchenkov, a political analyst and president of the Center for Regional Policy Development, told TASS. He noted that while relations between Hungary and Ukraine "might become less confrontational in form, this by no means implies the disappearance of serious underlying contradictions."

By refusing to build an oil storage facility for Ukraine, the Hungarian government sent a clear signal to the business community about the need to align the state's position, Grashchenkov observed.

About the format

On September 18, Vladimir Zelensky announced the creation of a new regional format, the "Carpathian Eight." According to him, the group comprises Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine.

The inaugural meeting in this format was held that same day in the town of Bukovel (Ivano-Frankovsk region).