Hungary Sees Ukraine as Threat to Oil Supply

In recent weeks, Hungary has taken a hard line against Ukraine, saying the country is blocking oil that flows through a key pipeline. The pipe, called Druzhba, brings Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine shut it down a month earlier after claiming damage from a strike, but Hungarian leaders argue the pause is political. Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted a video on X in which he accused Kyiv of using the blockage to pressure Hungary and its neighbor. He warned that more actions could come against the nation’s energy system, though he offered no proof. Orban also announced that soldiers would be posted near important power plants and energy sites. Police patrols will increase, especially around the biggest generators and control centers. Drones are banned in the border area near Ukraine to prevent any threats. The move comes as Hungary prepares for its parliamentary elections in April, a time when the ruling Fidesz party is trailing in polls.Hungary and Slovakia have long opposed European Union sanctions on Russia, especially after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Both countries blocked a new EU measure that would have tightened sanctions on Moscow, citing the stop of Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline. Their close ties to Russia have caused friction with Brussels, which critics say ignores the energy needs of Hungary and Slovakia. Hungary’s foreign minister also claimed that Ukraine was behind sabotage of European energy infrastructure, including the Nord Stream gas lines in Germany. He said that those who blocked the oil pipeline were the same people responsible for the gas attacks, but no evidence was presented. Ukraine denies any role in those incidents. The situation highlights the growing tension between Hungary and Ukraine over energy security, with Hungary preparing for possible attacks on its critical infrastructure as it battles to stay in power.