Trump ‘Very Angry’ At Ukraine Repeatedly Attacking Russian Pipeline To Hungary, Slovakia

For the second time in less than two weeks, Russian oil shipments to Hungary have been suspended following yet another Ukrainian strike on the Druzhba pipeline.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced it Friday, with Slovak officials also confirming. “This is yet another blow to our energy security – another effort to pull us into the war,” Szijjarto stated on social media. It occurred near the Russia-Belarus border.

Prior strikes on the Druzhba pipeline network took place on August 13 and August 18, with the last attack having crippled a vital transformer station, which had previously but briefly halted oil flows.

It is certainly nothing new that Ukraine’s intelligence and military is targeting Russian energy infrastructure; however, what is new is President Trump’s surprise reaction:

U.S. President Donald Trump said he got “very angry” after Ukraine damaged a Russian oil pipeline that supplies his friend Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister.

Trump responded to a note from Orbán, who complained about a Ukrainian drone attack overnight on Aug. 13 hitting the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies Hungary, Slovakia and other countries in Central Europe with Russian oil through Ukrainian territory.

“Viktor — I do not like hearing this. I am very angry about it. Tell Slovakia,” Trump wrote according to a letter published online by Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party. “You are my great friend,” the U.S. president added.

Below is the letter as released by Hungarian state media and the prime minister’s office:

The incident that Trump was responding to was an earlier August attack, which occurred “just before the historic meeting between President Trump and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin in Alaska” – as Orban wrote.

“Hungary supports Ukraine with electricity and petrol, in return they bomb pipeline that supply us. Very unfriendly move,” Orban stated.

Trump might also condemn this newest Friday attack if he’s asked about it by reporters – but there remains something deeply contradictory about the White House stance. Trump just this week in a Truth Social post seemed to say that Ukraine must go on the offensive against Russia if it hopes to achieve a peace deal which benefits Kiev. As the WSJ noted: 

By Thursday, he was saying that Kyiv had no chance of winning the war without new attacks on Russia.

“It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense,” Trump posted on social media. “Interesting times ahead!!!”

His turnaround underscored the fading optimism about Trump’s latest push to end the war.

Trump seems to be signaling that he wants to see Ukraine go on the offensive, but refrain from hitting energy sites. This is at least consistent with Trump’s wanting a ‘freeze’ on attacks targeting energy infrastructure, which had been enacted for a brief period months ago.

Hungary continues to rely heavily on Russian oil, even after most European nations have imposed sanctions and sought alternative sources.

Polish-Hungarian relations in three tweets. pic.twitter.com/ji8czGaGw9

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) August 22, 2025

Budapest’s Russian energy supply is primarily delivered through the Druzhba pipeline, which passes through Belarus and Ukraine before reaching Hungary and Slovakia.