Hungary is ramping up security at its energy facilities as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accuses Ukraine of endangering its energy supply. Orbán, a vocal ally of the president, penned a scathing open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, charging Kyiv with pursuing an “anti-Hungarian policy”.
“Over the past few days, you blocked the Friendship oil pipeline, which is crucial for Hungary’s energy supply,” Orbán’s statement, posted on X, stated. “Your actions go against Hungary’s interests and put the secure and affordable energy supply of Hungarian households at risk. Therefore, I urge you to alter your anti-Hungarian policy!”
The Associated Press reported that on Wednesday, Orbán directed heightened security at key energy infrastructure sites. The prime minister’s directive followed Budapest’s accusation that Ukraine blocked the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary but runs through Kyiv’s territory. Ukrainian officials refuted the claims, stating the pipeline was hit in a Russian drone strike, as per the AP.
The AP reported that in a social media video, Orbán claimed Ukraine was employing an “oil blockade” to exert pressure on Hungary and that Hungarian national security services indicated Ukraine was “planning additional moves to disrupt Hungary’s energy system”.
Orbán stated, as per the AP, “We will deploy soldiers and the required equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities. Police will patrol in greater numbers around specified power plants, distribution stations, and control centers.”
The accusations directed at Ukraine coincide with Orbán’s upcoming election. As the election draws near, Hungary has had billboards nationwide displaying AI-generated images of Zelenskyy extending his hand as if soliciting money, surrounded by European officials, as reported by the AP.
Hungary recently threatened to block a proposed €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine (approximately $106 billion) due to the blockade of the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian Foreign Minister stated on Friday, “Ukraine is engaging in blackmail,” and that Kyiv was collaborating with Belgium and the Hungarian opposition to “raise fuel prices ahead of the elections”.
Szijjártó added, “By blocking oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, breaking its commitments to the EU. We will not yield to this blackmail.”
Orbán also charged that Ukraine, the Hungarian opposition, and Belgium were working together to apply pressure on Budapest.
In the letter released on Thursday, Orbán, who has a close tie to the Kremlin, also stated that Ukraine had refused “to accept the stance of the sovereign Hungarian government and the Hungarian people regarding the Russia-Ukraine war”. He also accused Ukraine of attempting to “coerce Hungary” into the war with Russia.
Orbán wrote, “We Hungarians are not responsible for Ukraine’s situation. We sympathize with the Ukrainian people, but we do not want to be part of the war. We do not want to fund the war effort, nor do we want to pay more for energy.”
The Hungarian prime minister concluded his letter by demanding that Ukraine reopen the oil pipeline, “refrain from any additional attacks on Hungary’s energy security,” and show “greater respect for Hungary”.
Neither Zelenskyy’s office nor the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry promptly responded to Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press and Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.