On March 25, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly announced his decision to officially halt gas supplies to Ukraine. According to him, the only condition for resuming supplies is the resumption of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. AgroReview reports this, according to the PromPolitInform portal.
Budapest’s energy demands
Victor Orban stressed that Hungary intends to break the so-called “oil blockade” and guarantee its own country a stable energy supply. He emphasized that without access to Russian oil, Budapest is not ready to consider the possibility of supplying gas to Ukraine.
Energy security priorities
“We must create reserves, and therefore we will fill Hungarian gas storage facilities instead of Ukrainian ones… We will protect Hungary’s energy security, we will maintain a protected price for gasoline and a reduced price for gas!” Orban declared.
Thus, Hungary shifts the emphasis to filling its own gas storage facilities, rather than Ukrainian ones, and prioritizes domestic energy stability. Orban also stressed that the government will continue to protect the price of gasoline and maintain a reduced price for gas for Hungarian consumers.
