Viktor Orbán has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of blocking the Druzhba oil pipeline, which he claims is crucial for Hungary's energy security and poses a threat to affordable energy supplies for Hungarian families.
In a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for blocking the Druzhba oil pipeline, which significantly influences Hungary's energy security. Orbán emphasized that the Ukrainian government's actions threaten safe and affordable energy supplies for Hungarian households, placing them in a difficult situation amid rising energy concerns in Europe. The Druzhba pipeline has historically been a key route for Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, highlighting its importance in regional energy dynamics.
The disruption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline occurred following attacks on energy infrastructure in western Ukraine, which are linked to the pipeline's operation. Budapest maintains that the pipeline infrastructure itself has not been directly targeted, yet there are increasing tensions surrounding its functionality. This week, Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked the pipeline's starting station in Tatarstan, resulting in a fire, intensifying the already fraught relationship between Hungary and Ukraine over energy decisions.
Moreover, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine unless oil deliveries to Slovakia resume by a specified deadline. This escalating situation reflects the interconnected nature of energy security within the region, where actions taken by Ukraine can have significant implications for its neighbors, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, raising concerns over the balance of energy needs and regional cooperation within the EU.
