politics
February 20, 2026
Hungary won’t bow to Ukrainian ‘blackmail’
Ukraine’s decision to block Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline is “blackmail,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said
TL;DR
- Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban calls Ukraine's blockade of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline "blatant political blackmail."
- Orban suggests Ukraine aims to pressure Hungary to support its EU membership and release funds.
- Hungary has decided to stop diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine in retaliation.
- Slovakia has made a similar move and is considering cutting electricity supplies to Ukraine.
- Both Hungary and Slovakia, being landlocked, depend on Russian oil deliveries.
- Hungary has secured alternative Russian oil supplies through Croatia, with shipments expected in early March.
- The Kremlin has also described the situation as "energy blackmail by Ukraine against an EU member state."
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