Hungary threatens electricity suspension to Ukraine over oil transit dispute

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the country is considering the possibility of suspending electricity exports to Ukraine due to the blockage of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, but stressed that such a step would be taken only as a last resort.

According to TASS, Hungary had earlier halted diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine and blocked the European Union’s proposed €90 billion “military loan” for Kyiv.

Orbán noted that Hungary and Slovakia together account for about 40% of Ukraine’s electricity imports, warning that a shutdown could seriously affect the neighbouring country’s energy security.

He added that Hungary would not yield to what he described as “Zelenskyy’s blackmail” and insisted on restoring oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline.

Russian oil deliveries to Hungary have been halted since January 27, prompting Budapest to supply the company MOL Group with crude oil from strategic reserves for its refineries. Hungarian authorities argue that the blockage of the pipeline is purely political in nature.

By Tamilla Hasanova