Hungary may begin reducing natural gas deliveries to Ukraine if Russian crude oil does not resume flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned, further escalating tensions over one of the region’s most sensitive energy corridors.
The warning follows a nearly two-month disruption in oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia after reported drone attacks on infrastructure along the pipeline section crossing Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian officials claim that repeated strikes have complicated repair efforts and endangered technical crews working on the infrastructure.
However, Budapest and Bratislava have accused Kyiv of deliberately slowing down the restoration process. Prime Minister Orban described the situation as political pressure from Ukraine, arguing that Hungary should not continue supporting Ukraine’s energy needs while its own oil supplies remain blocked.
Orban also stated that, until oil transit is restored, Hungary would redirect gas currently exported to Ukraine into its own storage system. He characterized the disruption as coercive behavior and indicated that Budapest is prepared to use energy supplies as a form of leverage in the dispute.
Hungary plays a significant role in Ukraine’s gas imports. According to Ukrainian data, nearly half of the country’s gas imports last year came through Hungary, although that share has declined somewhat this year. The dispute has also extended into EU politics, where Orban recently blocked a major financial package for Ukraine and signaled further resistance to additional support measures.
In recent months, Hungary has taken several restrictive steps, including halting diesel deliveries to Ukraine and opposing new EU sanctions on Russia. At the same time, Hungarian authorities have increased security measures around domestic energy infrastructure, while officials have accused Ukraine of planning sabotage, without presenting evidence.
Hungary and Slovakia remain among the few EU member states still permitted to import Russian oil under temporary exemptions introduced after the 2022 sanctions. This special status makes the Druzhba pipeline a critical energy route for both countries, further underscoring the strategic importance of the ongoing dispute.
