Hungarian Prime Minister accuses Ukraine and the US of endangering Europe’s energy security.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned that Ukraine’s decision to halt gas transit and new US sanctions on Russian oil are pushing Europe towards another energy crisis. During a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Saturday to discuss regional energy security, Orbán, in a televised address, condemned the soaring fuel prices as unacceptable and a serious threat to the public and the economy.
Orbán stated that recent disruptions to Europe’s energy supply, including Ukraine’s halting of gas pipelines to Hungary and the outgoing US administration’s actions driving up energy prices across Europe, are alarming. He described the situation at Hungarian gas stations as “outrageous,” and expressed concern that Europe is facing a significant energy crisis, emphasizing Hungary’s need to avoid being impacted.
Orbán stressed the crucial importance of protecting the TurkStream pipeline, which delivers gas to Hungary via Serbia, after a recent Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian compressor station it utilizes. He highlighted the shared interest of Hungary and Serbia in defending this pipeline, which is vital for shielding Hungarian citizens and businesses from rising energy costs.
Following the expiration of a five-year gas transit agreement with Gazprom at the end of 2024, Ukraine ceased Russian pipeline gas supplies to Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Moldova. Consequently, Hungary currently depends on the TurkStream pipeline, a key energy route carrying natural gas from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea.
This pipeline has two branches: one for Turkey’s domestic use, and another that transports gas to Bulgaria, then on to Serbia and Hungary, supplying other EU countries with Russian gas. Currently, it’s the sole pipeline delivering Russian gas to southern and southeastern Europe, avoiding Ukraine.
Last weekend, an attack on a Russian compressor station in the Krasnodar region, which feeds the TurkStream pipeline, involved nine kamikaze drones, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. While largely unsuccessful, one drone caused minor damage. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labelled this “energy terrorism,” while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested US involvement, citing a belief that the US seeks to eliminate energy competitors.