Orbán charges against Zelenski after cutting an oil pipeline and accuses him of conspiring with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition

The tension between the executives of Hungary and Ukraine has suffered a new episode and takes a new political leap. The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbánhas published an open letter addressed to the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenskiin which he accuses him of “trying to damage the energy supply” to the Magyar country.

This document, published by Orbán on the social network X, represents a new episode within the already usual confrontations between both administrations.

In the letter, the Hungarian leader accuses kyiv of acting in coordination with the European authorities with the intention of harming the interests of Hungary, with the ultimate goal of bringing about a change of government in Budapest.

The Magyar leader claims that Zelensky has tried to “force Hungary into war” and also criticizes the paralysis of the pipeline Druzhba —also called “Friendship”—, a strategic infrastructure for the supply of crude oil to the Central European country.

In the letter, he emphasizes that the Hungarian people “are not responsible for the situation that Ukraine is going through” and emphasizes that Hungary has no intention of getting involved in the war nor to pay for the military effort, contrary to the policies of the rest of the members of the European Union (EU).

With this, he reaffirms the position that Budapest has held since 2022: humanitarian support to kyivbut refusal to supply weapons and reluctance towards certain sanctions directed against Moscow.

The message also includes a broader accusation: Viktor Orbán suggests that Volodímir Zelenskyin tune with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition, would be promoting the coming to power of a “pro-Ukrainian” Executive in Hungary.

With this statement, the president expands the focus of the conflict beyond the military field and places it within the framework of the ideological dispute he maintains with the European Union, especially on issues related to the rule of law and the orientation of foreign policy.

Orbán militarizes energy plants

In the run-up to this message, Orbán had already taken the measure of reinforcing the security of strategic energy infrastructures in the face of what he described as Ukraine’s preparations to adopt new actions aimed at affecting the functioning of the Hungarian energy system.

The announcement came after a series of meetings with key members of his cabinet, including his national security advisor and senior defense officials.

Orbán pointed out that the decisions taken are due to what he considers an increase in threats coming from Ukraine, especially those that, in his opinion, They target Hungary’s energy systems.

The actions carried out by the Hungarian administration come after recent tensions around the Druzhba oil pipeline, an energy artery crucial for both Hungary and Slovakia.

This oil pipeline represents one of the main energy arteries that connect Russia with several countries in central and eastern Europe.

For Hungary, which remains heavily dependent on Russian crude oil, any interruption represents a direct blow to energy prices and internal economic stability.

Despite the accusations about Ukraine, The oil pipeline was damaged in a Russian attack produced on January 27.

Zelensky has denounced that Moscow is bombing these oil facilities again when Ukraine tries to repair them, putting Ukrainian workers in charge of repairing the facilities at risk.

He also recalled Russia’s pattern of actions against critical civil infrastructure, with attacks on energy stations and systems, including oil pipelines. The Ukrainian leader has urged Orbán to ask his Russian counterpart for explanations:

“We are not the reason for the destruction of this pipeline,” the Ukrainian president reiterated this Monday during a joint appearance in kyiv with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenand the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa.

In any case, to avoid tensions, Von der Leyen has asked the Ukrainian Government to resume the repair of the oil plant.

This confrontation has led to the 90 billion euro loan that the European Union was going to send to Ukraine being paralyzed from Hungary, causing a new escalation of tension with the EU, which weakens the European plan to weaken Putin.

Orbán has built a good part of his political discourse on the defense of “safe and affordable” energy for Hungarian families, and interprets any alteration as an attack on national interests and his political capacity.

At the end of January, Hungary summoned the Ukrainian ambassador in Budapest for what he described as kyiv’s attempts to interfere in the Hungarian parliamentary elections to be held in April, in which Orbán is trying to make a comeback in the polls to maintain power.