Hungary Will Cut Natural Gas Supplies To Ukraine Until Russian Oil Deliveries Resume

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary will gradually trim disconnected state supplies to Ukraine until Russian lipid deliveries resume done nan Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said connected Wednesday.

The transit of earthy state done Hungary plays a cardinal domiciled successful fulfilling nan power needs of Ukraine, now successful its 4th twelvemonth of warfare pinch Russia.

Russian lipid supplies to Hungary and Slovakia person been halted for astir 2 months aft what Ukrainian officials opportunity were Russian drone attacks that damaged nan pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory, and that continuous strikes consequence nan lives of technicians trying to repair it.

The populist leaders of Hungary and Slovakia person accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up Russian deliveries. President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this period that he is reluctant to let Russian lipid to proceed transiting his country.

In a video posted connected societal media Wednesday, Orbán called nan Russian lipid stoppage “Ukrainian blackmail,” adding: “As agelong arsenic Ukraine does not proviso oil, it will not person state from Hungary.”

He added that Hungary would usage nan state alternatively to capable its ain reserves.

There was nary contiguous remark from Kyiv and a Hungarian authorities spokesperson did not respond to a petition for remark by The Associated Press.

Ukraine imports a awesome information of its state needs done Hungary, amounting to astir 45% of each state imports past year, according to Ukrainian power consultancy EXPRO. That number dropped to 38% by January.

Orbán’s announcement was nan latest successful a bid of retaliatory measures Hungary has taken successful consequence to interrupted Russian lipid flows.

Last week, Orbán, who is wide seen arsenic nan Kremlin’s biggest advocator successful nan EU, blocked a 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU indebtedness to Ukraine complete nan interruptions and vowed to veto immoderate further pro-Ukraine decisions until lipid flows resume.

The Hungarian leader antecedently ceased diesel shipments to Ukraine and vetoed a caller information of EU sanctions against Russia.

Meanwhile, arsenic he faces an unprecedented situation from a center-right force successful elections adjacent month, Orbán has escalated an fierce anti-Ukraine campaign, calling nan state Hungary’s “enemy,” and accusing Zelensky of seeking to provoke an power situation successful bid to sway nan April 12 vote.

He’s besides deployed subject forces to cardinal power infrastructure sites crossed Hungary, accusing Ukraine of plotting disruptions but providing nary evidence.

Hungary and Slovakia person received a impermanent exemption from a European Union argumentation prohibiting imports of Russian lipid since Moscow launched its warfare successful Ukraine successful February 2022.

Spike writes for nan Associated Press.