Orban proposes a clever strategy to maintain gas transit through Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, announced that the country is negotiating with both Russia and Ukraine to ensure uninterrupted gas transit. He proposed an alternative — the possibility of transferring gas to Hungarian ownership right at the border. According to Orbán, this would help avoid interruptions in supply through Ukraine.

At the same time, the country is also in talks with Bulgaria regarding the supply of Russian gas via the "Turkish Stream." The Hungarian Prime Minister stated that on Friday he received assurances from Bulgaria that there would be no restrictions on the transit of gas from Russia, which travels through the "Turkish Stream" and then through the Balkans.

Simultaneously, the situation in the European gas market is becoming more tense. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas could lead to serious consequences, and he stated that his country is prepared to act if a compromise is not reached. The Slovak government is trying to discuss alternative supply mechanisms with European partners, particularly through Turkey, but the Ukrainian side has rejected such proposals.

Fico expressed outrage at President Zelensky's decision to halt the transit of Russian gas starting January 1, 2025. The Slovak Prime Minister emphasized that this decision strikes a blow to his country's economy, which heavily relies on supplies from Russia. In response, the Ukrainian president noted that Kyiv would not agree to any terms that could allow Russia to continue financing its military campaign.

What Actions Will Slovakia and Hungary Take Next

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will urgently fly to Moscow on Monday, December 23, for negotiations with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. The topic will be the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, which Fico is very concerned about. Prior to this, Fico claimed that the Ukrainian president allegedly promised him transit (and 500 million euros of Russian assets) in exchange for allowing Ukraine to join NATO, but he did not agree.

It is worth recalling that Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed during a meeting with Robert Fico in October that the agreement on the transit of Russian gas will not be extended after its expiration in 2024. It should be noted that earlier, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko also stated that after the expiration of the transit contract with Russia, Ukraine would not negotiate its extension. The position of Ukraine is unequivocal and not subject to revision, government representatives emphasized.