The foreign ministry has summoned Ukraine's ambassador to protest that country's "attempt to obstruct Hungary's long-term gas supply".
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary sees the move as a violation of its sovereignty, noting Hungary’s signing on Monday of a 15-year gas supply agreement with Gazprom, pledging to buy 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas each year over the next decade, with deliveries arriving via Serbia and Austria. The Ukrainian foreign ministry issued a statement saying it would turn to the European Commission and postpone a meeting of the Hungarian-Ukrainian economic committee, alleging the decision violated the principles of the Hungarian-Ukrainian basic treaty of 1991.
Minister Szijjártó called it “outrageous” that Ukraine should turn to the EC over the issue. “Ukrainians have nothing to do with our agreements or their content.” Hungary sees it as a “gross violation of our sovereignty and national security that they are trying to obstruct safe gas supply to Hungary.” The move, he added, was especially “unfriendly” in light of the support Hungary has provided to Ukraine, from deliveries of ventilators and health-care equipment, to the treatment of soldiers, children’s camps and investment support.