The beginning of March brought a sharp escalation of tensions on the Budapest-Kyiv line and new protests against trade with Russia. Viktor Orban announced he possesses evidence of the operational status of the Friendship pipeline, calling on Ukraine to resume oil transit. Simultaneously, in the French port of Dunkirk, Greenpeace activists blocked a ship carrying Russian uranium, and the services of Belgium and France seized a tanker belonging to the so-called Russian shadow fleet.

Orban Demands Resumption of Supplies

The Hungarian Prime Minister claims he has satellite images proving the operational status of the Friendship pipeline and accuses Ukraine of lying.

Uranium Blockade in Dunkirk

Greenpeace activists blocked a ship carrying Russian raw material, protesting against the financing of war through atomic trade.

Seizure of Shadow Fleet Ship

Belgium and France detained a tanker in the North Sea that was circumventing sanctions, which was met with threats from Russia.

Hungarian-Ukrainian relations have reached a new flashpoint following Monday's address by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The head of the Hungarian government publicly questioned Kyiv's narrative regarding damage to transmission infrastructure. Orban declared that he possesses satellite images and technical data that unequivocally prove that the Friendship pipeline is fully operational. Hungarian diplomacy, through the words of Minister Péter Szijjártó, described the suspension of supplies as „a direct attack on Hungary's energy security” and demanded that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately restore the pumping of raw materials. Since the outbreak of full-scale war in 2022, Hungary has remained the only EU country in the region maintaining close energy cooperation with Moscow, regularly blocking or delaying further sanction packages imposed by Brussels. Concurrently, a spectacular action by the Greenpeace organization took place in the port of Dunkirk. Four activists were detained after blocking the unloading of a freighter suspected of transporting Russian uranium destined for the French nuclear sector. Protesters argued that trade in nuclear fuel constitutes a loophole in the sanction system that effectively fuels the Kremlin's war budget. French police intervened, removing the activists from the quay. This incident coincided with reports of a joint success by Belgian and French services, which seized a tanker classified as part of the shadow fleet in the North Sea. Russia reacted to these actions by announcing retaliation, accusing Western countries of maritime piracy. „A Barátság kőolajvezeték működőképes, bizonyítékaink vannak rá, és ismételten felszólítom Zelenszkij elnököt a szállítások helyreállítására.” (The Friendship oil pipeline is operational, we have evidence for it, and I once again call on President Zelenskyy to restore the shipments.) — Viktor Orban The situation in Dunkirk highlights the political dilemma of Paris, which, despite militarily supporting Ukraine, remains technologically linked to the Russian concern Rosatom in the processing of nuclear fuel. Meanwhile, the operation in the North Sea signals a tightening of the EU's course towards attempts to circumvent the oil embargo. Experts predict that Hungary's disclosure of alleged evidence of the pipeline's operational status could lead to a serious crisis within EU structures and a further cooling of relations with Ukraine.

Mentioned People

  • Viktor Orban — Prime Minister of Hungary, who announced the disclosure of evidence regarding the Friendship pipeline.
  • Péter Szijjártó — Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, accusing Kyiv of attacks on energy security.
  • Wołodymyr Zełenski — President of Ukraine, called upon by Orban to restore oil supplies.