Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned that the decision by Ukraine to block gas transit and the recent sanctions by the outgoing US administration against Russian oil will push Europe into a new energy crisis. Orbán made the statement in Belgrade, where he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss the security of energy supply in both countries and the region. In a video message on Hungarian television, Orbán described the rising fuel prices as a significant threat to public well-being and the economy, and called the situation “unbelievably dire”.
Orbán stated, “In the last few days, there have been unfavorable developments in European energy supply. Ukraine has shut down the pipeline that delivered gas to Hungary, and the outgoing US administration has implemented measures that have led to higher energy prices in Europe.” He emphasized, “What is happening at Hungarian gas stations is appalling and annoying” and added, “Europe is racing towards an energy crisis, and Hungary must find a way to get out of it, which is not easy.”
The Hungarian Prime Minister reiterated the importance of protecting the TurkStream pipeline, which supplies gas to Hungary through Serbia and was recently attacked by Ukrainian drones, whose target was a compressor station in Russia. “Our task now is to protect the only remaining gas pipeline that brings gas from Russian territory to Hungary. This pipeline goes through Serbia to Hungary, and it is in our common interest to defend it together” Orbán said. He added that securing the pipeline is crucial to protect Hungarian families, households, and businesses from rising energy prices.