Kyiv and Budapest trade barbs over Hungary's Gazprom gas deal
A look back at the diplomatic exchange that followed a 15-year gas supply agreement signed between Hungary and Russia.
What did Kyiv make of the new gas pact between Hungary and Russia? On 29 September 2021, the dispute was still fresh, two days after the deal was signed on 27 September.
Under the agreement, Gazprom would supply Hungary with 4.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year for 15 years, with deliveries routed via Serbia and Austria.
Ukraine criticised the arrangement, calling it a purely political and economically unreasonable decision. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó responded by accusing Ukraine of meddling in Hungary's internal affairs.
Domestic backdrop
The exchange came days after Ukraine passed a law on 23 September ordering oligarchs to stay out of politics. That vote followed a failed assassination attempt on an aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, which officials said could have been a response to the reform.
