Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday, Feb. 26, published an open letter addressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, urging him to “immediately reopen” the Druzhba oil pipeline and “refrain from any further attacks on Hungary’s energy security.”
In the letter posted on X, Orbán accused Zelensky of pursuing what he described as an “anti-Hungarian policy” and claimed Kyiv had blocked the Druzhba oil pipeline, which he said was critical to Hungary’s energy supply.
“Your actions are against Hungary’s interests and endanger the secure and affordable energy supply of Hungarian families,” Orbán wrote, adding: “More respect for Hungary!”
He also alleged coordination between Kyiv, Brussels and Hungary’s opposition to bring a “pro-Ukraine government” to power in Budapest – claims for which he provided no evidence.
Pipeline Dispute
The dispute concerns the Druzhba oil pipeline, a key route for Russian crude oil deliveries to Central Europe.
Transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Ukrainian section of Druzhba was halted after a Russian strike on pipeline infrastructure on Jan. 27.
Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of politically delaying the restoration of transit. Kyiv, in turn, has pointed to Russia’s attacks on critical infrastructure as the cause of the disruption.
On Feb. 12, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Hungary was preparing to complain about transit problems following the Russian strike.
“Hungary has not expressed a single protest to Russia over this. They could not even bring themselves to say the word ‘Russia.’ Double standards in their purest form,” Sybiha said.
Regional Tensions
On Monday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, saying Bratislava would resume them only once oil transit via Druzhba to Slovakia is restored.
A day later, European Council President António Costa said an agreement had been reached under which Ukraine would assess the necessary repair works to restore the pipeline damaged by Russia’s attack.
On Wednesday, Orban said that he had ordered strengthened protection of Hungary’s critical energy infrastructure, alleging that Ukraine could be preparing “further” actions aimed at disrupting the country’s energy system.
Orbán’s letter marks the latest escalation in a dispute that has increasingly strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv amid broader European debates over sanctions and support for Ukraine.