Hungary Warns Ukraine of Power Supply Cut

(MENAFN) Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has hinted that Hungary might halt electricity exports to Ukraine in retaliation for a recent strike on a key oil pipeline that delivers Russian crude to the European Union member state.

The suggestion underscores the growing strain in relations between the two neighboring countries.

In contrast to most European Union members, Budapest has consistently declined to offer military assistance to Kiev and has frequently voiced opposition to the EU’s punitive measures against Moscow.

Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have continued to rise over the years, with the Hungarian government accusing Kiev of mistreating its ethnic Hungarian community living in Western Ukraine.

Posting on X this Monday, Szijjarto emphasized that “Russia has supplied oil to Hungary for decades via the Druzhba pipeline,” but accused Ukraine of launching attacks on the same infrastructure.

“Because of these Ukrainian strikes, oil supplies to Hungary are repeatedly cut off,” he noted, adding that such actions are contrary to Hungary’s national interests.

Szijjarto further cautioned Ukraine, pointing out that a “significant part of Ukraine’s electricity comes from Hungary…”—implying that this supply could be jeopardized if such attacks continue.

His comments followed a message from Ukrainian official Andrey Sibiga, also posted on X earlier the same day. Sibiga criticized Budapest, stating that “Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia,” despite the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, and even after being “told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner.”

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