Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced via social media on February 15 that Hungary and Slovakia have requested Croatia's assistance to facilitate the transport of Russian crude oil through the JANAF pipeline system. This request comes after Ukraine failed to resume transit flows through the Druzhba pipeline.

Minister Szijjártó stated that both Hungary and Slovakia had previously secured exemptions allowing them to continue purchasing discounted Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline. The exemption also permits the two nations to acquire Russian oil by sea should pipeline transit become unfeasible.

According to Szijjártó, Ukraine has not restored oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline for political reasons. Consequently, he and Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková have sent a joint letter to Croatian Economy Minister Damir Šušnjar. The letter urges Croatia to comply with relevant European Union regulations and immediately authorize the transport of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the JANAF pipeline.