Hungary blames Ukraine for energy predicament
(MENAFN) Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused Ukraine of endangering Europe's energy stability by refusing to extend a key natural gas transit deal. In a statement posted on Facebook, Szijjarto claimed that Kiev’s decision to halt Russian gas transit through its territory has left Central European nations in a difficult position.
The five-year contract between Ukraine and Russian energy giant Gazprom is set to expire at the end of 2024. Without an extension, several EU nations — including Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Moldova — will lose access to Russian gas via Ukrainian pipelines.
“Ukraine has turned its back on Central Europe regarding energy security,” Szijjarto said, emphasizing the strain this move places on regional energy supply. He noted that Hungary is currently mitigating the impact by receiving over 20 million cubic meters of gas per day through Serbia.
With the Ukrainian route shutting down, the TurkStream pipeline—running through Türkiye and the Balkans—remains the sole channel delivering Russian gas to the region.
Russia’s share of EU pipeline gas imports has plunged from over 40% in 2021 to around 11% in 2024, amid Western sanctions and the Nord Stream sabotage. Earlier this month, the European Commission unveiled a plan to fully end reliance on Russian energy by 2027, requiring member states to submit national strategies for phasing out Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel.
Szijjarto dismissed the EU’s strategy as “absolute insanity,” warning it could cause energy prices to spike and infringe on national sovereignty. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has vowed to oppose the plan.
To strengthen energy security, Szijjarto announced that Hungary and Serbia will jointly construct a 200-kilometer oil pipeline by 2027, a move expected to stabilize gasoline prices in Hungary.
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