Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared on Wednesday that his nation would progressively halt natural gas exports to Ukraine until Russian oil shipments resume through the Druzhba pipeline. This announcement intensifies a growing energy conflict between the two nations amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Orbán characterized the current oil stoppage as “Ukrainian blackmail” in a social media address, asserting Hungary would redirect gas supplies to bolster its own reserves instead. The Druzhba pipeline, which traverses Ukrainian territory, has been non-operational for nearly two months following what Ukrainian officials attribute to Russian drone attacks damaging critical infrastructure.
The Hungarian leader’s stance aligns with Slovakia’s populist government, with both nations accusing Kyiv of deliberately obstructing Russian energy deliveries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed reluctance to permit continued transit of Russian oil through his country’s territory.
This energy confrontation carries significant implications for Ukraine’s energy security. According to Ukrainian energy consultancy EXPRO, Hungary supplied approximately 45% of Ukraine’s gas imports last year, though this figure declined to 38% by January 2024.
The current announcement represents the latest in a series of retaliatory measures from Budapest. Last week, Orbán—considered the Kremlin’s most prominent EU advocate—blocked a €90 billion EU loan package for Ukraine and vowed to veto further pro-Ukraine decisions until oil flows resume. Previous actions included halting diesel shipments to Ukraine and opposing additional EU sanctions against Russia.
With Hungarian elections approaching next month, Orbán has intensified an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign, labeling the nation an “enemy” and accusing Zelenskyy of attempting to provoke an energy crisis to influence the electoral outcome. The Hungarian government has deployed military personnel to protect energy infrastructure, alleging Ukrainian plots without providing substantiating evidence.
Both Hungary and Slovakia maintain temporary exemptions from the EU’s prohibition on Russian oil imports instituted following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.