In a video message posted on Facebook, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said:
“To ensure Hungary’s secure energy supply, further measures are now necessary. For this reason, we will gradually discontinue gas deliveries to Ukraine and store the remaining gas volumes domestically.”
According to Orbán, the reason for this decision is that energy flows in the region have become less predictable. Therefore, the importance of domestic reserves has increased. The politician further emphasized:
“Since Ukraine is also attacking the southern gas pipeline that supplies Hungary, we need to replenish our reserves. Therefore, we are now refilling the Hungarian gas storage facilities instead of the Ukrainian ones.”
Orbán added that Ukraine would not receive gas from Hungary until Kyiv resumed oil deliveries. Budapest would protect Hungary’s energy security. Furthermore, the government planned to keep gasoline prices stable and maintain reduced gas tariffs.
At the end of January, Ukraine suspended oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, citing damage to the pipeline as a result of Russian attacks.
According to the Ukrainian company ExPro Consulting, Ukraine imported more than 2.9 billion cubic meters of gas from Hungary last year, representing 45 percent of its total gas imports. This made Hungary one of Ukraine’s most important gas import routes. In January 2026, Hungary’s share fell to 38 percent (266 million cubic meters). This is due to increased imports from Poland, which accounted for more than half of Ukraine’s total gas imports.
More on this topic – Report: Kyiv continues to deny EU experts access to the Druzhba pipeline
