Viktor Orban announced the suspension of gas supplies to Ukraine due to the situation with the Druzhba oil pipeline
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made a statement about his intention to gradually stop natural gas supplies to Ukraine. Budapest is motivating this decision by stopping the transit of Russian oil through the territory of Ukraine through the Druzhba oil pipeline.
According to official data from Ukraine and the European Union, the pumping of raw materials has stopped due to technical damage to the infrastructure caused by Russian missile strikes. However, the Hungarian side views the situation as a tool of pressure and is preparing appropriate steps at the government level.
The Hungarian leader emphasized that the volumes of fuel that were previously sent to Ukraine will now remain within the country to fill national gas storage facilities. Viktor Orban argued for this policy by the need to protect the domestic market and maintain low energy prices for Hungarian citizens.
According to him, Hungary is forced to create additional reserves because it also sees threats to the functioning of the southern gas corridor.
“Gas supplies from Hungary to Ukraine will be gradually stopped, and the volume of gas that remains in Hungary will be stored in Hungary,” Viktor Orbán said.
The Hungarian leadership insists that Ukraine must resume the operation of the oil pipeline regardless of technical difficulties. On the sidelines of the European Council in Brussels, the Prime Minister emphasized that his country will not vote for any decision that is favorable to Ukraine until Russian oil starts flowing to Hungarian and Slovak refineries again.
At the same time, the European Union has already expressed its readiness to provide financial and expert assistance for the repair of the Druzhba, which, according to preliminary estimates, could take about six weeks.
“Until Ukraine provides oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also expressed his belief that the resumption of Russian supplies through Ukrainian territory is inevitable due to financial factors. Budapest claims that it intends to “break the oil blockade” and ensure the complete energy security of its state. Viktor Orbán summed up that the government will do everything possible to maintain preferential prices for gasoline and gas for the population, ignoring calls for solidarity in the face of the energy crisis.
“We will protect Hungary’s energy security, we will maintain a protected price for gasoline and a reduced price for gas!”, he emphasized.
