Hungary threatens with halting oil supplies to Ukraine After criticism over ties with Russia

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó warned Ukraine over repeated attacks on the Friendship pipeline, which delivers Russian oil to Hungary, framing the strikes as a threat to the country’s energy security and hinting at possible retaliation. 

The comments came in response to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha’s criticism of Budapest for continuing to rely on Moscow for energy amid the war. 

Szijjártó also suggested that Kyiv’s criticisms were misplaced in a post on Facebook.

“Apparently, my colleague somehow overlooked the facts. Russia has been supplying oil to Hungary for decades, which serves Hungary’s interests. Meanwhile, Ukrainian attacks regularly interrupt these deliveries, contrary to Hungary’s interests,” Szijjártó wrote on Facebook. 

Szijjártó further reminded Ukrainian authorities that a significant portion of Ukraine’s electricity comes from Hungary.

“And let’s not forget: a large part of Ukraine’s electricity supply comes from Hungary,” he wrote.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sharply criticised Hungary for its continued reliance on Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasising that Moscow, not Kyiv, initiated the conflict and has consistently refused to end it. 

Addressing his Hungarian counterpart, Sybiha stated that Hungary had long been warned about the risks of depending on Russia, yet continued to maintain close ties even after the full-scale invasion began, Caliber.Az reports. 

“You can now send your complaints—and threats—to your friends in Moscow,” he wrote on X. 

Peter, it is Russia, not Ukraine, who began this war and refuses to end it. Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia. Even after the full-scale war began. You can now send… https://t.co/yvMq8slTG0

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) August 18, 2025

The remarks come amid escalating tensions over an energy dispute. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of attacking a pipeline that delivers oil to Hungary, describing the incident as “outrageous and unacceptable” and a threat to the country’s energy security. 

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin confirmed that experts are working to restore a transformer station critical for operating the pipeline, but no timeline has been provided for resuming deliveries.

Szijjártó framed the repeated attacks as part of “broader efforts by Brussels and Kyiv over the past 3.5 years to draw Hungary into the conflict.” 

“Let me be clear: this is not our war. We have nothing to do with it, and as long as we are in charge, Hungary will stay out of it,” he said. 

The Hungarian minister also reminded Ukrainian authorities that electricity from Hungary remains essential for powering parts of Ukraine.

In response to Sybiha’s earlier comments, Szijjártó reiterated, “The fact is that Ukraine attacked the pipeline which delivers oil to Hungary.”

The fact is that Ukraine attacked the pipeline which delivers oil to Hungary. https://t.co/YrbO1qFViJ

— Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) August 18, 2025

By Sabina Mammadli