The Ukraine pipeline, a key Russian gas route to Europe, will close at year-end as Kyiv refuses to extend the transit agreement. Credit: Svet foto/Shutterstock.

Hungary is in negotiation with Russia and Ukraine to ensure the continuation of gas shipments via Ukraine, despite the majority of its Russian gas imports now being delivered through the TurkStream pipeline.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has emphasised the importance of this route, which is one of the last main conduits for Russian gas to Europe.

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The pipeline through Ukraine is one of the major Russian gas routes to Europe, but it is set to close at the end of this year as Kyiv has refused to extend a five-year transit agreement that delivers gas to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria.

Orban said: “We are now trying the trick … that what if the gas, by the time it enters the territory of Ukraine, would no longer be Russian but would be already in the ownership of the buyers.

“So, the gas that enters Ukraine would no longer be Russian gas, but it would be Hungarian gas.”

Orban has stated that talks are in progress and the outcome are uncertain, as it depends on the agreement of both the Russian partner and Ukraine.

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This year, Hungary imported approximately 7.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian gas through the TurkStream pipeline, with additional imports via Romania. It also produces around 1bcm-1.5bcm of gas domestically.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico also warned of a potential gas crisis if Ukraine persists in its refusal to extend the transit of natural gas through its territory, which is a result of the ongoing war.

In a related development, the US has imposed new sanctions on several Russia-based entities linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

These sanctions target Russian marine services, water transport companies, including the state-owned maritime rescue service, and several vessels.