Thursday, 26 March 2026
Hungary has suspended gas supply auctions for deliveries to Ukraine for the third quarter of 2026, following a decision signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The measure affects auctions organised by the country’s gas transmission system operator, which are typically arranged in advance to secure supply flows. The move forms part of a broader shift in Hungary’s energy policy, with the government indicating that gas supplies to Ukraine will be gradually reduced.
According to officials, the decision is linked to the disruption of oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which has been interrupted since the end of January. Hungary and Slovakia have attributed the disruption to Ukraine, while Ukrainian authorities have said the pipeline was damaged during a Russian drone strike and is undergoing repairs.
The Hungarian government has stated that gas supplies to Ukraine will be scaled back until oil transit through the pipeline is restored. The Druzhba pipeline remains a key route for Russian oil deliveries to both Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to receive exemptions from European Union sanctions allowing such imports.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry has indicated that it has not yet observed any immediate interruption in gas flows from Hungary following the announcement.
The decree also includes a requirement to increase gas reserves, mandating an additional 800 million cubic metres of natural gas to be stored in Hungarian facilities above previously planned levels.
The development reflects ongoing tensions over energy supply routes and infrastructure, which have been affected by the broader geopolitical situation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
