Hungary’s FM says Ukraine has become enemy over energy policies

Hungary has labelled Ukraine an “enemy” due to what Budapest views as Kyiv’s efforts to undermine the country’s access to Russian energy supplies, threatening its independence and energy security.

Speaking on the programme The Hour of Truth, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Ukraine is persistently lobbying Brussels to adopt measures that directly jeopardise Hungary’s energy stability.

He cited Ukraine’s push to ban Russian oil and gas imports and to impose sanctions on Russia’s nuclear sector. Szijjártó warned that such moves could disrupt the construction of the Paks II nuclear power plant and complicate fuel deliveries to existing reactors.

“These actions are a direct threat to Hungary’s energy security,” he said, describing them as “hostile”.

Hungary relies heavily on Russian energy, and the Paks II project is central to its long-term energy strategy. Kyiv, however, has argued that Europe must reduce its dependence on Russian fuel to bolster regional security.

Earlier, Szijjártó had warned that Ukraine is pushing the EU and Brussels to pressure Hungary to stop buying Russian oil and gas. He said Kyiv’s demands threaten Hungary’s energy security, warning that without Russian supplies, electricity and heating costs could soar.

Szijjártó stressed that Hungary will resist what he described as politically motivated pressure, insisting the country will maintain affordable and reliable energy despite Ukraine’s calls for a shift away from Russian fuel.

He warned that EU leaders may push all European countries to deploy troops to Ukraine following agreements by the UK and France.

Szijjártó recalled that on January 6, after a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in London, "the UK and France agreed with Ukraine to deploy their servicemen there once the conflict ends. The next step will clearly involve all other countries in this process," he said.

Szijjártó noted that "the Ukrainians are failing to make progress on the battlefield, and Russia is continually pushing them back."

He added, "That is why everyone in Europe is now talking more openly about the need to send soldiers to Ukraine, because supplying weapons is pointless if there is no one to use them or no one knows how to do so."

By Aghakazim Guliyev