Hungary cuts off gas to Ukraine, Orbán issues ultimatum
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Getty Images)
Hungary is cutting off gas supplies to Ukraine until the Druzhba oil pipeline is restored, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on social media.
What Orbán said
“As long as Ukraine does not supply oil, they will not receive gas from Hungary. We will protect Hungary’s energy security, maintain protected fuel prices, and keep reduced gas prices!” the Hungarian prime minister said.
According to him, the remaining gas will be stored in domestic facilities.
Orbán added that he will submit an important proposal at a government meeting.
“So far, we have successfully defended ourselves against Ukrainian blackmail. Thanks to protected prices, Hungarians pay the lowest prices at gas stations in all of Europe,” he said.
Orbán said that Hungary needs to stockpile gas. That is why the country is filling Hungarian gas storage facilities instead of Ukrainian ones.
“Since Ukraine is also attacking the southern gas pipeline that supplies Hungary, we need to stock up,” the Hungarian prime minister said.
What Druzhba is and why it stopped
Druzhba is one of the largest oil pipelines on the continent. It runs through Ukrainian territory and supplies oil to several EU states, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia.
The pipeline was disabled by Russian airstrikes. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, technical repairs may take up to two months.
At the same time, he emphasized that he opposes restoring the transit of Russian oil in particular.
“If we decide to restore Russian oil, I want them to know that I am against it,” Zelenskyy said.
But, as president, he is not blocking the repair of the pipeline.
Orbán against supporting Ukraine in the EU
“Hungary’s position is very simple. We are ready to support Ukraine when we receive our oil, which has been blocked by them,” the Hungarian prime minister said on March 19, ahead of a European Council meeting.
“We are waiting for oil. Everything else is just a fairy tale. That is why we believe only facts,” he said.
The discussion concerned a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. However, at the EU summit, Orbán was not persuaded.
Four diplomats and officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said the discussion lasted an hour and a half, but the sides failed to reach a common decision.
