Hungary, Serbia say EU should ensure region's energy security after Russian pipeline scrapped

The foreign ministers of Hungary and Serbia say it is the responsibility of the European Union to ensure energy security for their region after a Russian pipeline project was canceled.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Wednesday that since the EU did not support the South Stream pipeline which would have brought natural gas from Russia to Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and other countries, it should back "other projects capable of increasing energy security" in central and eastern Europe.

Visiting Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said "the citizens of Hungary and Serbia have the same rights to obtain gas as the citizens of Germany or northern Europe."

A new contract for natural gas deliveries to Hungary will be a key issue during Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Budapest on Tuesday.