Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has issued a warning regarding the suspension of crucial supplies to Ukraine if the country does not resume oil transportation through the Friendship pipeline. According to RTHK, Orbán stated in a national radio interview that the disruption of oil flow through the pipeline was politically motivated rather than due to technical issues. Hungary has already ceased the delivery of gasoline and diesel to Ukraine, maintaining only electricity exports.
Orbán further mentioned that Hungary would veto any European Union financial aid plans for Ukraine until the oil transportation is restored. Ukraine has maintained that the pipeline was damaged during Russian attacks, a claim Hungary does not accept. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently indicated that while he initially did not want the pipeline to resume operations, he might have no choice to ensure the approval of a €90 billion EU loan package for Ukraine.