Viktor Orbán accuses Ukraine of blocking the delivery of oil pipelines to Hungary
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Hungary is tightening security at its energy sites as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accuses Ukraine of threatening his country’s electricity supply. Orbán – who is US President Donald Trump’s top lawyer – published a scathing open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which he accused Kyiv of pursuing an “anti-Hungarian policy.”
“In recent days, he has blocked the Friendship oil pipeline, which is very important for providing energy to Hungary,” reads Orbán’s open letter, which he published in X. “Your actions are against the interests of Hungary and endanger the secure and affordable power of Hungarian families. Therefore, I ask you to change your anti-Hungarian policy!”
On Wednesday, Orbán ordered increased security at key energy infrastructure sites, the Associated Press reported. The prime minister’s order came as Budapest accused Ukraine of blocking the Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil is delivered to Hungary, but bypassing Kyiv’s territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, according to the AP, saying the pipeline was hit by a Russian plane.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of blocking oil production in his country. (Bernadett Szabo/Reuters; Liesa Johannssen/Reuters)
In a video posted on social media, Orbán said that Ukraine is using an “oil blockade” to pressure Hungary and that Hungary’s national security services have indicated that Ukraine is “preparing other actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary’s energy system,” AP reported.
“We will deploy the troops and the equipment needed to repel attacks near key areas of power,” Orbán said, according to the AP. “Police will patrol with increased strength in selected power generation areas, power distribution stations and control centers.”
The accusations against Ukraine also come as Orbán faces an upcoming election. As the election approaches, Hungary has seen billboards across the country showing AI-generated images of Zelenskyy raising his hand as if begging for money while surrounded by European officials, according to the AP.
The Druzhba oil pipeline between Hungary and Russia is seen at the Hungarian MOL Group’s Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, May 18, 2022. (Bernadett Szabo/File Photo/Reuters)
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Hungary recently threatened to block the European Union’s proposed 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine – worth about 106 billion dollars – because of the blockage of the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday that “Ukraine is harassing” his country and that Kyiv is working with Belgium and the Hungarian opposition to “raise fuel prices before the elections.”
“By blocking the flow of oil to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine is violating the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, violating its obligations to the European Union. We will not allow this accusation,” said Szijjártó.
Orbán also accused Ukraine, the Hungarian opposition and Belgium of coordinating to put pressure on Budapest.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during a news conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (Alex Brandon, Pool/AP Photo)
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In a letter released on Thursday, Orbán, who has close ties to the Kremlin, also said that Ukraine refused to “accept the position of the independent Hungarian government and the Hungarian people regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war.” Additionally, he accused Ukraine of trying to “force Hungary” into war with Russia.
“We, the Hungarian people, are not responsible for the situation in which Ukraine finds itself. We sympathize with the Ukrainian people, but we do not want to participate in the war. We do not want to finance the war effort, and we do not want to pay more for the power,” wrote Orbán.
The Hungarian prime minister concluded his letter with demands that Ukraine reopen the oil pipeline and “avoid any attack on Hungary’s energy security,” and the need for “more respect for Hungary.”
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Neither Zelenskyy’s office nor Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
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