Hungary will start receiving Russian gas through Turkish Strem and the gas pipeline of Southeast Europe as early as October 1, said the chairman of the board of directors of the company “Gazprom”, Alexei Miller.
“This is largely possible thanks to the efforts of Bulgarian, Serbian and Hungarian companies involved in the development of national gas transportation systems,” Miller said after signing a contract with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siarto.
The contract envisages the delivery of 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas a year to Hungary in the next 15 years: 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas will flow through Serbia and one billion through Austria. The contract will be valid for 15 years, with the possibility of changing the conditions after 10 years.
Kiev’s reaction to the signing of the agreement was swift. The General Director of the Ukrainian Gas Transport System, Sergei Mikogon, expressed his fear that Budapest will practically completely interrupt the transit of gas through Ukraine with this agreement.
“Regardless of the agreement (on gas transit to Europe, which is in force between Moscow and Kiev) until 2024, we expect a significant reduction if not a complete suspension of transit to Hungary via Ukraine,” Makogon wrote on Facebook.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine announced that Kiev is disappointed with the decision of Budapest. Moreover, Ukraine promised to address the European Commission because of this decision of Hungary. The Hungarian chief of diplomacy told Kiev not to interfere in the internal affairs of his country.
“I protest against this attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Hungary and supply fuel during the winter,” Siarto said, commenting on the statements of Ukrainian officials on the occasion of signing the above-mentioned agreement. He added that other states cannot influence such decisions of his country, Sputnik News reports.
