Viktor Orbán reappeared on social media after a period of relative inactivity, issuing a statement on the status of the energy supplies. In his post, the outgoing prime minister indicated that oil delivery via the Druzhba (‘Friendship’) pipeline could resume as early as Monday.
“Through Brussels, we have received an indication from Ukraine that they are ready to restore oil deliveries via the Friendship pipeline as early as Monday, provided that Hungary lifts its blockade of the €90 billion EU loan,” said Viktor Orbán.
He added that Hungary’s position has not changed, and stressed that if there is oil, there is money.
Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan. The disbursement of the loan does not impose a financial burden or obligation on Hungary,”
the politician wrote on X.
Through Brussels, we have received an indication from Ukraine that they are ready to restore oil deliveries via the Friendship pipeline as early as Monday, provided that Hungary lifts its blockade of the €90 billion EU loan. Hungary’s position has not changed: no oil = no money.…
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) April 19, 2026
Regarding the 90-billion-euro loan package, the head of government had previously pointed out that the Ukrainians would only have to repay the loan once they had defeated the Russians and the Russians had provided reparations to Ukraine—which, in his view, would never happen. “The loan will then have to be repaid by the member states, your children and grandchildren,” Orbán stated earlier.
János Bóka, Hungary’s Minister for EU Affairs, also commented on this issue in a post on Facebook:
It has become clear that Ukraine imposed an oil blockade against Hungary for political reasons. It has also become clear that the Ukrainians are running out of money before we run out of oil. It has also become clear that political pressure can only be effectively countered with similar measures,”
he stated.
He added that no one in Brussels seriously disputes anymore that the “Druzhba” oil pipeline has been operational for a long time. “This became clear to everyone at the latest when Ukraine did not even allow the EU fact-finding delegation near the pipeline,” the minister pointed out.
He noted that the European Commission failed to show strength toward Ukraine and did not express solidarity with the affected EU Member States, Hungary and Slovakia. It failed to enforce the provisions of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, even though this would have been its primary task, the minister added.
In cooperation with the Commission, Ukraine employed the same tactics it has long pursued, as in the case of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia: it makes the fulfillment of its existing international obligations contingent on constantly changing additional conditions,”
the politician emphasized, noting that the energy weapon—the specter of an oil blockade—would loom in the background of every future Hungarian-Ukrainian negotiation.
Prime minister-elect Péter Magyar, chairman of the TISZA Party, announced a few days ago that the Druzhba oil pipeline is expected to resume operations this week. This would mean that Ukraine will restart the pipeline for the transport of Russian oil by April 26 at the latest, following a three-month shutdown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated that the pipeline would be put back into operation by the end of April.
Via Világgazdaság, Featured image: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter
