Hungarian PM sets date to halt gas supplies to Ukraine
Photo: Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary (Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has ordered a halt to the transit of natural gas to Ukraine starting from July 2026, DPA reports.
Orbán’s decree prohibits the Hungarian operator FGSZ from providing capacity for gas transit to Ukraine starting in July. The company has already allocated capacity for the second quarter, until June.
Gas trade is handled by private companies, including those that sell energy resources and those that provide pipeline transportation. In Hungary, this is managed by pipeline operator FGSZ, a subsidiary of the oil and gas group MOL.
Traders purchase transit capacity from pipeline operators, which is distributed via auctions.
The outlet noted that last year, Ukraine received about 44% of its gas imports through Hungary.
Elections in Hungary
Orbán’s decree will take effect well after the elections in Hungary, where he could lose. The vote is scheduled to take place on April 12.
In particular, a recent survey shows the Tisza party leading Fidesz by 16 percentage points among the general population and by 20 points among those certain about their vote.
For the first time in observations, a relative majority of voters believes in an opposition victory. According to forecasts, 47% of respondents expect opposition leader Péter Magyar to win, while 35% believe in a victory for Orbán’s Fidesz.
Consequences of Hungary’s gas shutoff
Experts note that such a blockade will not have a critical impact on Ukraine’s energy system.
As explained by Volodymyr Omelchenko, director of energy programs at the Razumkov Centre, Hungary is not the main gas supplier to Ukraine, but only one of several routes.
According to him, less than 20% of Ukraine’s total gas imports came through Hungary. Moreover, Ukraine is currently importing very little gas overall, so even this share is not critical.
Orbán’s gas ultimatum
Orbán previously stated that the country could cut off gas supplies to Ukraine. He issued an ultimatum—exports will not resume until the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that Kyiv is prepared for a possible halt in gas transit through Hungary. Even if Budapest blocks this route, the country has sufficient alternative channels to import fuel from the EU.
