Hungarian FM blames Ukraine, EU’s sanctions for Europe’s energy crisis

During a working visit to Belgrade alongside Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó pointed to Ukraine’s actions, coupled with EU's sanctions on Russia, as the main causes of the current energy crisis gripping Europe.

Szijjártó emphasised that Ukraine’s decision to cut off the transit of Russian natural gas—a critical supply route primarily serving Central Europe—has significantly contributed to the shortage, Caliber.Az reports via Hungarian media. 

“Ukraine is one of the main reasons behind the energy crisis in Europe because it has cut off the gas pipeline that transported natural gas from Russia to Europe, primarily to Central Europe,” he said.

Since January 1, when Ukraine ceased gas transit, regional countries have struggled to secure energy supplies. The TurkStream pipeline and its extensions through Bulgaria and Serbia have become the primary conduits for gas deliveries. 

Hungary alone receives more than 20 million cubic meters of natural gas daily via Serbia, totaling roughly 7.5 billion cubic meters annually. Szijjártó warned that without Serbia’s reliable transit, Hungary, Slovakia, and Central Europe would face severe energy shortages. Highlighting the geopolitical implications, the minister criticised Ukraine for compromising Central Europe’s energy security while commending Serbia for its responsible and dependable role in ensuring uninterrupted gas transport.

By Naila Huseynova