Orbán accuses Ukraine of threatening Hungary's energy security

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of preparing to disrupt Hungary’s energy system and has ordered the army to reinforce the protection of critical infrastructure. According to him, intelligence reports suggest further possible steps by Kyiv that could threaten the country’s energy security.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of an interruption to oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia. Budapest claims the shutdown is politically motivated, while Kyiv attributes it to a Russian drone strike on facilities in western Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Orbán’s remarks.

The tension is also linked to Hungary’s stance on Russia and the war in Ukraine – Budapest has long blocked certain European Union sanctions and refused to provide military support to Kyiv. Ahead of forthcoming elections, Orbán portrays the situation as a choice between war and peace.

(reuters, pir)