On April 12, as the parliamentary elections in Hungary entered a decisive moment, Prime Minister Viktor Orban made a noteworthy statement about the future of the Druzhba oil pipeline - one of the most important energy arteries in Europe.
Izvestia newspaper reported that, speaking at a press conference on April 12, Mr. Orban affirmed: "We will win the election, and then Ukraine will reopen the pipeline the next morning". This statement immediately attracted attention, because Druzhba is still interrupted after the damage incident at the end of January.
The Druzhba pipeline has stopped transporting oil from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia since January 27, after a drone attack damaged the pipeline section passing through Ukrainian territory.
This disruption sparked a heated debate between Budapest and Kiev. The Hungarian and Slovak governments accused Ukraine of delaying repairs, while Kiev denied and affirmed that it was urgently overcoming them.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will complete repairs in the spring of this year, although admitting that some items such as destroyed warehouses need more time.
Mr. Orban's statement was made on the very day Hungary held parliamentary elections, where he faced the biggest challenge since returning to power in 2010. His main opponent is the opposition led by politician Peter Magyar.
Observers believe that linking the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline with the election results is a clear political message: If Mr. Orban continues to rule, energy relations with Ukraine could be "cleared".
Not only stopping at statements, Budapest had previously used the Druzhba issue as a lever in relations with the European Union (EU). Hungary has blocked the EU's 90 billion euro support package for Ukraine, with the condition that oil through Druzhba must be restored.
The disruption of the Druzhba pipeline not only affects the region but also contributes to the global energy market. Last month, Brent oil prices increased by more than 13%, while US crude oil increased by about 18%.
Investors are currently closely monitoring the progress of pipeline repairs, because restoring oil flow can help cool down the market somewhat, while reducing pressure on alternative transport routes.
The election in Hungary not only decides Mr. Orban's political future, but could also directly affect the energy flow in the region.
If his statement becomes reality, the Druzhba pipeline could quickly resume operations, helping Hungary and Slovakia resume Russian oil supplies.
However, many experts remain cautious, saying that repairs depend on technical factors rather than politics.
