Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that the country is halting natural gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries via the “Druzhba” pipeline are resumed.
“Until Ukraine ensures oil supply, it will not receive gas from Hungary. We will protect Hungary’s energy security and maintain guaranteed fuel prices and reduced gas tariffs!” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
He also stated that Hungary will retain as reserves the volumes of gas not supplied to Ukraine, citing attacks on the “TurkStream” pipeline.
“Since Ukraine is also targeting the pipeline that supplies Hungary from the south, we need to build reserves. Therefore, instead of supplying Ukraine, we will now fill Hungarian gas storage facilities,” Orbán added.
According to ExPro estimates, Ukraine imported 2.94 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Hungary in 2025, with Hungary accounting for 45% of Ukraine’s total gas imports. Hungary was one of the most attractive import routes due to its low tariffs.
However, in 2026 Hungary’s share has already declined, with imports from Poland taking the lead. In March 2026, Ukraine imported an average of 8.7 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Hungary, representing 34% of total imports.
So far, no stoppage of natural gas imports from Hungary has been recorded, and contracts are in place through the end of March. Hungarian gas is imported both by state companies (Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gas Transmission System Operator LLC) and by individual private companies.
