The foreign minister said the situation in Central Europe with regard to energy supply had worsened since Ukraine ceased gas transit deliveries.
Minister Szijjártó called it highly important that countries along the route of the Turk Stream gas pipeline continue to ensure the transit of deliveries.
20 December 2024, Sofia (София)
Minister Szijjártó said he had reviewed the situation that had arisen due to Ukraine’s “unacceptable” move to render Lukoil’s crude oil transits to Hungary and Slovakia impossible.
The president noted that dozens of Hungarian police officers were serving in Bulgaria in the framework of border police cooperation.
Most of the natural gas Hungary imports is delivered via Bulgaria through the TurkStream pipeline which runs from Russia to Hungary via Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia.
The two leaders agreed that cooperation between their countries played a key part in promoting peace and development in the region.
The foreign minister said that Bulgaria’s move was “scandalous and hostile” because it endangered gas transfers to North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary.
Minister Szijjártó said the Bulgarian president had assured him of his country’s readiness to cooperate.
The foreign minister said energy connectedness was a regional interest also supported by the European Union.
The president said the war has been going on for almost a year, and the path towards peace was not yet in sight.
The foreign minister said Hungary received 4.8 billion cubic meters of gas through Bulgaria last year.
The foreign minister said that Hungary-Bulgaria economic ties are strengthening as top Hungarian companies boost their investments in Bulgaria.