Hungary: We Do Not Depend on Russian Gas Transit Through Ukraine

The agreement between Moscow and Kiev on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine could be terminated even before its official term expires in December 2024. The volume of gas flowing through the former Soviet pipeline system has fallen by 60 percent, while Russia is still contractually obliged to pay Ukraine $1.3 billion per year. These payments have been sharply criticized by Russian public opinion. Russian President Vladimir Putin also said that allowing Ukraine “to collect Russian money” was not a good idea.

Waiting for the crucial moment when “the valve will be finally closed,” many Eastern European countries, including Hungary, are trying to diversify their sources of energy supply. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto has said that Hungary does not need the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, as supplies now flow through Turkey via the Turkish Stream Black Sea pipeline built by Russian energy giant Gazprom.

“I believe that building (the Balkan section of) the Turkish Stream pipeline together with Turkey, Serbia, and Bulgaria was an excellent decision. Now (the pipeline) secures our gas imports, so we no longer need transit through Ukraine. For us it actually does not matter what decision Ukraine will make on the transit of Russian gas,” Sijjarto emphasized.

The head of Hungarian diplomacy added that Budapest will further increase gas supplies from Russia through the Turkish Stream pipeline. “Last year we imported 5.6 billion cubic meters, so there is still room for increase,” Sijjarto said.

And starting April 1, Hungary will also begin importing Turkish natural gas. The Hungarian Foreign Minister discussed preparations for the “historic event” on the sidelines of the Atomexpo-2024 International Nuclear Energy Forum in Sochi, Russia, with Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar. “April 1, a historic day for Turkish-Hungarian energy cooperation, is approaching, as the transportation of Turkish natural gas to Hungary will begin. According to the agreement, 275 million cubic meters of gas will arrive in the coming months, making Hungary the first country not close to Turkey to start exporting natural gas produced by Turkey,” the Hungarian foreign minister wrote on his Facebook page.