BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s prime minister says his country plans to be able to get natural gas from the TurkStream pipeline by the end of 2021.
Hungary depends greatly on natural gas from Russia. It now arrives through Ukraine, but Russia wants to diversify transit routes for its energy supplies.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban also said Thursday after hosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that “without Turkey, migration toward Europe cannot be stopped.” He said that makes Turkey Hungary’s strategic partner in security and migration issues.
Orban has focused greatly on anti-immigration policies since 2015. He said the fences on Hungary’s southern borders can stop any “illegal migrants” from entering.
Several hundred people, including many pro-Kurdish and anti-war activists, marched in Budapest to protest Erdogan’s visit.