Hungary Threatens to Cut Off Gas and Electricity to Ukraine in Retaliatory Move.

Hungary's Energy Threat Against Ukraine

According to TSN.ua: In a retaliatory move, the Hungarian government is considering halting the supply of energy resources, including gas and electricity, to Ukraine. This threat comes in response to the stoppage of Russian oil transit via the "Druzhba" pipeline. The situation highlights the fragile energy interdependencies in Eastern Europe, where political disputes can quickly escalate into supply crises.

Gergely Gulyás, the head of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's office, announced that the government has released strategic oil reserves, signaling Hungary's serious intent regarding its energy relations with Ukraine. The primary catalyst for this threat is the halt of Russian oil transit through the "Druzhba" pipeline.

Shifting Import Dynamics

Ukraine's energy reliance on Hungary is significant. In 2025, Ukraine imported over 2.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Hungary, accounting for 45% of its total gas imports. However, by January 2026, Hungary's share of Ukrainian gas imports had fallen to 38%, or 266 million cubic meters. For comparison, imports from Slovakia totaled 1.3 billion cubic meters in 2025, representing 20%.

The electricity trade is similarly critical. In 2025, Ukraine imported approximately 1.4 million MWh of electricity from Hungary, constituting 42% of its total electricity imports. By February 2026, Hungary's share of Ukrainian electricity imports had risen to 50%. Furthermore, in January 2026, the Hungarian-Slovak route supplied about 11% of Ukraine's diesel fuel imports.

“Hungary will not export diesel fuel to Ukraine until oil transportation via the main Druzhba pipeline is restored.” - Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs

This energy tension is set against a backdrop of ongoing infrastructure vulnerability. A Russian attack on the pipeline infrastructure in the city of Brody occurred on January 27, 2023. In 2025, Ukraine transported about 9.73 million tons of Russian oil via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline—a 14% decrease from 2024 and likely the lowest volume since 1991. These figures underscore the critical importance of stable energy supplies for Ukraine and the potential consequences of disruptions in transit arrangements.

The current standoff signals substantial risks to Ukraine's energy security, given its heavy reliance on Hungarian imports. Amid volatile energy markets and geopolitical strain, Ukraine faces urgent pressure to diversify its supply sources and strengthen its own energy independence. The outcome of this dispute could significantly impact regional supply stability and Ukraine's economic situation.