As of March 25, Hungary has not halted its gas exports to Ukraine, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Georgiy Tikhiy. He conveyed that relevant authorities confirmed this information prior to the briefing.
Tikhiy warned that if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán decides to stop gas exports, it could result in a loss of over $1 billion for Hungary’s economy, reflecting the revenue generated from gas sold to Ukraine in the previous year. He remarked, “The only consequence will be that Viktor Orbán will take this $1 billion from the pockets of Hungarians. It is his choice if he wants to do this.”
Currently, Tikhiy stated that Ukraine possesses sufficient gas supplies and has alternative sources lined up, even in the event of a cessation of imports from Hungary.
In contrast to Hungary, Tikhiy emphasized that Ukraine has diversified its energy resources and previously took necessary measures to ensure that its energy supply is not reliant on the decisions of neighboring leaders, particularly those motivated by political agendas.
On the same day, Orbán announced that Hungary would cease gas shipments to Ukraine until the oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline is restored. This pipeline is crucial for transporting Russian oil to Europe, including Hungary and Slovakia.
The Ukrainian government has attributed damage to the Druzhba pipeline to Russian shelling at the end of January. However, officials from Hungary and Slovakia have disputed this claim. Hungary has asserted that recently released satellite data indicates there are no technical or operational issues preventing the immediate resumption of the pipeline’s normal operations.
Hungary continues to export gas to Ukraine despite political tensions, with officials warning of significant economic losses if exports cease. The situation is further complicated by the ongoing issues surrounding the Druzhba oil pipeline, crucial for energy supplies in the region.