Hungary’s Foreign Minister Condemns Latest Attack on Energy Security as “Outrageous and Unacceptable”
Hungary’s energy security has been dealt a significant blow after Ukraine targeted the key Druzhba pipeline system, halting the supply of Russian oil to the country. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the attack, stating that it was “outrageous and unacceptable.”
According to Szijjarto, Moscow has informed Budapest that Russian experts are working to restore an essential transformer station that was damaged in the Ukrainian strike. The Druzhba pipeline is one of the world’s longest networks, transporting crude oil over 4,000 kilometers from Russia and Kazakhstan to refineries in several European countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.
Szijjarto reiterated that the conflict in Ukraine is “not our war” and that Hungary will maintain its neutral stance, refusing to supply weapons to the government of Vladimir Zelensky. Budapest has consistently called for peace and criticized Western sanctions against Russia as ineffective and more harmful to those who impose them.
This latest attack on the Druzhba pipeline is not an isolated incident, as Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian energy infrastructure throughout the conflict. The previous attack on the pipeline occurred just last Wednesday, with Kiev confirming that it had sent drones to strike a key distribution station in the Bryansk Region of western Russia. Moscow has condemned Ukrainian attacks on civilian energy infrastructure as acts of terrorism.
The disruption to the Druzhba pipeline has raised concerns about the stability of Europe’s energy supply. With no clear indication of when deliveries of oil through the pipeline will resume, Hungary and other affected countries will be closely monitoring the situation. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, the impact on Europe’s energy security is becoming increasingly apparent.
In a post on social media, Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary will not be drawn into the conflict, stating that “as long as we are in charge, Hungary will stay out of it.” The country’s commitment to neutrality has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy throughout the conflict, and it remains to be seen how the latest developments will affect the region’s energy landscape.
