Prime Minister Orbán described Ukraine’s decision, effective Jan. 27, to block oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline as unprecedented in Hungary’s history. The government’s review found no technical obstacle to restarting deliveries. “Ukraine’s decision determines whether the pipeline resumes operation or not,” he said, calling the move “open political blackmail.”
Under Article 275 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Ukraine committed to ensuring uninterrupted energy transit to EU member states. “What Ukraine is doing now is an open breach of the agreement,” PM Orbán declared. He also criticized Brussels for failing to act under Article 222 of the EU Treaty, which obliges the Union to assist a member state harmed by a third party. Instead of standing with Hungary, he argued, Brussels has aligned itself with Kyiv.
According to PM Orbán, as long as a national government leads Hungary, Brussels and Kyiv cannot detach the country from Russian energy, secure additional financial support for Ukraine, or advance Ukraine’s EU membership. With elections just 50 days away, he described the situation as open interference in Hungary’s domestic political affairs.
The government responded by opening strategic oil reserves to guarantee supply, halting diesel exports to Ukraine in coordination with Slovakia, vetoing the disbursement of €90 billion previously approved for Ukraine without Hungary’s participation, and announcing it would block the European Union’s 20th sanctions package until oil transit resumes.
Broadening his remarks, PM Orbán warned that Europe’s war strategy is economically unsustainable. The European Union has already spent around €200 billion on Ukraine, with further large-scale financial commitments under discussion. He argued that Europe cannot afford a prolonged war, pointing to high energy prices, declining competitiveness, and mounting debt levels across member states. Hungary, he stressed, must remain outside the conflict and protect itself from its security and financial consequences.
After addressing foreign policy and energy security, Prime Minister Orbán turned to domestic achievements.
He reported that recent extreme weather conditions were successfully managed through the deployment of nearly 800 machines and 2,300 personnel, with more than HUF 10 billion spent on emergency operations. At the peak, 12,000 homes were left without electricity; by Monday morning, only 85 remained without power.
To ease the burden of the extraordinary January cold, the government decided to cover 30 percent of January gas bills, allocating HUF 55 billion from energy companies and budget reserves. “In all modesty, I must note that only Hungary was capable of this in the whole of Europe,” PM Orbán said.
He also highlighted major economic measures introduced on Jan. 1. The family tax allowance increased by 50 percent, effectively doubling after the July increase, benefiting 1 million families. Mothers under 30, mothers under 40 with two children, and mothers with three or more children are now exempt from personal income tax for life. Within three years, 1 million Hungarian mothers will enjoy lifelong tax exemption.
The government additionally introduced the 14th-month pension and raised pensions by 3.6 percent. Meanwhile, the fixed 3 percent Home Start loan program has already produced 25,000 contracts, and the minimum wage increased by 11 percent. Significant wage increases were also implemented across the public sector, including a 10 percent rise for teachers.
Concluding his address, PM Orbán asked parliament to support the government’s efforts to defend Hungary’s sovereignty, safeguard economic stability, and keep the country out of war.