During the inauguration of the Hungary-Serbia gas interconnector, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, noted that Ukraine had threatened to turn to the European Commission over the agreement, which they said violated the Hungarian-Ukrainian basic treaty by “dealing a blow” to Ukrainian interests. Previously, Russian gas deliveries to Hungary flowed through the Ukrainian pipeline. Hungary categorically rejects the Ukrainian complaint, and sees it as a “gross attack on Hungary’s sovereignty”, Minister Szijjártó said. “Ukraine, or any other country, has no say whatsoever on what and with whom we Hungarians sign agreements,” he said.
Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin said the interconnector brought about an important change for Serbia: instead of paying gas transit fees, from now on Serbia will be the one getting paid, he said. Vulin praised Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as “two of the last free leaders of Europe who put their people’s interests first.” The interconnector’s success is also thanks to their ability to withstand pressure, he said. “The region was always peaceful in periods when Hungarians and Serbians could decide their fate independently, and it will remain stable and develop as long as that independence is maintained,” Vulin said.