Orban threatened Ukraine with force to unblock the Druzhba oil pipeline
6 March 05:47
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has stated that Budapest will not compromise with Ukraine on oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline. According to him, Hungary has the leverage to force Ukraine to resume oil supplies. Orbán made the statement in a video posted on his social media account, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Orbán announced a “forceful solution.”
In his address, the Hungarian prime minister stressed that his country does not intend to negotiate with Ukraine on this issue.
“There will be no agreements, no compromises. We will break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force. Hungary’s energy will soon flow again through the Druzhba pipeline,” Orban said.
The politician stressed that Hungary has mechanisms to influence Kyiv in order to achieve the resumption of energy supplies.
There will be no deals, no compromise. We will break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force. Hungary’s energy will soon flow again through the Friendship pipeline. 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/FZc8CcK0Ei
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) March 5, 2026
Why oil transit stopped
Oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline stopped at the end of January after the energy infrastructure was damaged by Russian shelling.
As a result, Hungary and Slovakia reported problems with Russian oil supplies.
Ukraine’s reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reacted sharply to the Hungarian prime minister’s statements.
On March 5, Zelensky said that Ukraine could respond to political pressure from Budapest, particularly after Hungary blocked €90 billion in aid to Ukraine at the European Union level.
Hungary’s demands to the EU
A few days earlier, Orbán appealed to the European Commission to exert influence on Ukraine.
The Hungarian prime minister said that Brussels should force Kyiv to resume the transit of Russian oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
The energy issue has become another factor in the deterioration of relations between Kyiv and Budapest against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
