Magyar rejects Naftogaz’s oil storage project in Hungary and confirms Budapest will not join the “Carpathians 8” initiative

Naftogaz’s acting chairman Serhii Fedorenko announced on Saturday, September 20, during the “Carpathians 8” summit in Ivano-Frankivsk, the signing of a memorandum with Hungarian energy company MOL on building petroleum product storage facilities in Hungary, near the border with Ukraine — a project aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s supplies ahead of winter, as Russia continues its attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

Just one day later, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar categorically rejected the project. Speaking on Sunday, September 21, he scolded MOL for negotiating with the Ukrainian side without consulting the government, and claimed the talks had begun during the rule of the pro-Kremlin Viktor Orbán. Magyar pledged that “no Ukrainian oil storage facility will be built in Hungary for as long as there is a Tisza government.” MOL later responded, clarifying that the talks are still at a very early stage and could take years, which is why the Hungarian government was not notified at this stage.

During the same summit, Naftogaz also signed two memorandums with Polish company Orlen: one for LNG deliveries in the first quarter of 2027 and another for petroleum product supplies to Ukraine worth over 500 million dollars, through Ukrnafta. On Sunday, speaking in the Hungarian parliament, Magyar confirmed that Hungary is not taking part in the “Carpathians 8” initiative, despite Ukraine’s invitation. “We had a good reason not to go,” he said, adding: “It is enough that I am the prime minister of Hungary, and if I don’t know about this, then believe me, Hungary is not taking part in this forum.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted the inaugural summit over the weekend; attendees included Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, as well as representatives from Czechia, Austria and Slovakia. Hungary was represented only by the head of its embassy in Kyiv, Ambassador Antal Heizer, who did not appear in the group photo and did not take part in the opening speeches or panels.

Although relations thawed somewhat after Magyar took office in May, replacing the pro-Kremlin Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister has ruled out military aid for Ukraine and accelerating its EU membership. Budapest has meanwhile renewed its blockade of the membership talks over minority rights issues. A possible Zelensky–Magyar meeting has been rumored since spring, but no date has been set.

Source: The Kyiv Independent