Hungary Negotiates Gas Supplies Through Ukraine

Hungary is negotiating with Russia and Ukraine to maintain gas supplies through Ukraine, despite the current transit agreement expiring at the end of the year. Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed a creative solution where gas entering Ukraine would be considered Hungarian, aiming to bypass Ukrainian restrictions on Russian gas. This comes as Ukraine has firmly stated it will not extend the transit deal, which has implications for several European countries reliant on this route. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić mentioned that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to meet with Putin to discuss gas supplies, further complicating the situation. Slovakia is also seeking to negotiate an extension of the transit agreement, which Ukraine has rejected, emphasizing its refusal to support Russian gas exports. As Hungary navigates these geopolitical challenges, it remains one of the most Russia-friendly nations in the EU, complicating its relationships within Europe.