Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on March 25 that the country will suspend gas shipments to Ukraine until oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored. Orbán emphasized the need to protect Hungary’s energy security and maintain stable fuel prices.
In a video statement shared on social media, Orbán stated, “As long as Ukraine does not ensure oil supplies, it will not receive gas from Hungary.” He indicated that Hungary would gradually reduce gas deliveries and redirect the freed-up volumes to its storage facilities.
The Ukrainian government has not yet responded to Orbán’s announcement. The situation follows the European Union’s ban on Russian oil purchases, which included exemptions for Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria—countries that lack access to maritime routes and rely on the Druzhba pipeline.
Austria has successfully diversified its oil supply sources, unlike Hungary and Slovakia, which remain dependent on the pipeline that transports Russian oil through Ukraine. However, Ukrainian officials have claimed that the pipeline was damaged due to Russian shelling at the end of January, a claim that Hungarian and Slovak officials have dismissed.
Hungary has recently cited satellite data to assert that there are no technical or operational reasons preventing the immediate restoration of the pipeline’s normal operations.
Read more: What’s happening with the Druzhba pipeline supplying Russian oil to Europe?
Hungary has decided to stop gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline resume, a move aimed at safeguarding its energy security. The announcement follows ongoing disputes regarding the pipeline's operational status amid the broader context of EU sanctions on Russian oil.