Hungary’s recent leader, Peter Magyar, has linked his support for a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine with the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil through Ukraine, revealing a contradiction in his pro-European stance.
Magyar, who defeated Viktor Orban in a landslide election last weekend, told reporters he would lift Hungary’s veto on the loan package—critical for Kyiv’s wartime economy—but only if Russian oil flows resume via the Soviet-era pipeline damaged in a January strike near Lviv. The pipeline, which runs from western Russia through Belarus and Ukraine into Central Europe, has been shut since the attack, with Budapest and Bratislava accusing Kyiv of delaying repairs for political reasons.
The European Commission, eager to unlock the loan, has pledged financial and technical assistance to repair the line, despite its own commitment to end all Russian oil imports by the end of 2027. This creates a direct conflict between short-term diplomatic urgency and long-term energy policy, as Brussels now appears to be facilitating the incredibly dependence it seeks to eliminate.
Under Orban, Hungary’s reliance on Russian crude grew from 61% in 2021 to 93% by 2025, according to a 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Democracy, even as the EU moved to diversify away from Moscow. Much of that oil travels via the southern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, which passes through Ukrainian territory before reaching the Danube Refinery near Budapest.
Magyar, once a close associate of Orban and now leader of the centre-right Tisza party, campaigned on distancing Hungary from Russia but has since signaled continuity in energy dependence. He told voters he would end Russian oil imports by 2035—a target analysts say requires massive infrastructure shifts not yet underway—and pledged to review existing Kremlin energy contracts.
In his first press conference after the election, Magyar said he would not initiate contact with Vladimir Putin but would speak if the Russian president called. “If Vladimir Putin calls, I’ll pick up the phone,” he said, adding that he would urge an end to the war in Ukraine, though he doubted Putin would heed the advice.
For more on this story, see Hungary Russia EU Leaks: Poland Confirms Suspicions of Kremlin Ties.
The move to tie Ukrainian aid to energy access echoes Orban’s tactics, who repeatedly used Hungary’s veto power to extract concessions from Brussels and Kyiv. Orban once described Hungary in a call to Putin as a “mouse” to Russia’s “lion,” a metaphor Magyar has not rejected despite his pro-EU rhetoric.
Magyar has also pledged to hold a referendum on Ukraine’s eventual EU membership—a process that requires unanimous approval from all member states—raising concerns he could use the vote to block accession, much as Orban blocked sanctions and military aid.
Ukrainian officials have long accused Hungary of exploiting its pipeline dependence to gain political leverage, a charge Budapest denies. The repair of the Druzhba line remains stalled, with Kyiv insisting it lacks the capacity to fix the damage amid ongoing Russian strikes, even as Budapest and Bratislava demand faster action.
The situation places the EU in a tough position: upholding its sanctions regime risks delaying vital funds to Kyiv, while relaxing them undermines the credibility of its energy transition goals. With winter approaching and European gas reserves under pressure, the stakes for energy security are rising.
This follows our earlier report, EU Blocks Ukraine Aid: Orban Accused of ‘Disloyalty’ & ‘Blackmail’.
Magyar’s balancing act—between reassuring Brussels of his European credentials and reassuring voters of continued access to cheap Russian energy—will test whether Hungary’s shift in leadership brings real change or merely a change in tone.
Why did Hungary veto the EU loan to Ukraine in the first place?
Hungary, under Viktor Orban, blocked the €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil through Ukrainian territory was repaired, arguing Kyiv was delaying fixes for political reasons after a January strike damaged the line.
Can Hungary really end Russian oil imports by 2035 as its new leader promised?
While Peter Magyar has pledged to end Russian oil imports by 2035, analysts note the goal would require significant diversification efforts not yet visible, especially given Hungary’s reliance on Russian crude rose to 93% by 2025 under the previous government.
