​Orban Threatens to Cut Gas Supplies to Ukraine Amid Escalating Oil Transit Dispute

​Hungarian Prime Minister (PM) Viktor Orban threatened on Wednesday to halt gas supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv resumes oil shipments to Hungary.

According to Politico's European edition, Orbán stated, "For 30 days, Ukraine has been obstructing the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline. So far, we have successfully withstood the pressure and blackmail of the Ukrainians."

​He added, "To break the oil blockade and ensure Hungary's energy security, we must now take action. We will gradually stop gas shipments from Hungary to Ukraine and store the remaining gas locally."

​This announcement marks the latest escalation in the ongoing friction between Budapest and Kyiv.

The dispute has previously seen Orbán block European Union loans to Ukraine and accuse Kyiv of stalling necessary pipeline repairs.

​These developments occur amidst rising global energy prices driven by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran; however, Orbán emphasized that gas in Hungary remains among the most affordable in Europe.