Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukraine and the European Union of trying to drag Hungary and Slovakia into the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Orban claimed that Hungary’s access to Russian natural gas has been severely restricted following the shutdown of a vital pipeline by Ukraine and other European countries.
He voiced these concerns following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
In a video posted on X, Orban alleged that Hungary’s eastern gas supply has been disrupted due to “Ukraine’s hostile actions.”
He further asserted that since early 2025, “the Ukrainians, colluding with Brussels bureaucrats, shut the major European gas pipeline running through their territory.”
Describing the move as coercive, Orban said it was “their way of putting pressure on Slovakia and us trying to force us into the Russia-Ukraine war.”
He emphasized that Hungary would not yield to such pressure, stating that the country’s government would “defend the interests of the Hungarian people and resist the blackmail,” accusing Brussels of trying to undermine Hungary’s sovereignty.
Despite the setback, Orban confirmed Hungary is adjusting its energy strategy by turning to southern sources.
He described Turkey as “a crucial partner,” adding that without the TurkStream pipeline, “Hungary’s secure energy supply would be unthinkable.”
TurkStream, which bypasses Ukraine, transports Russian gas to Turkey and other parts of Europe via the Black Sea.