Hungary shuts natural gas shipments to Ukraine after Russian assurances about its own supplies

Hungary has unexpectedly cut off natural gas shipments to Ukraine, just days after getting assurances from Russia's Gazprom about abundant supplies to fill up its own gas storage facilities.

Hungary had been sending an estimated 3 million cubic meters of natural gas a day to Ukraine, which has not received any from Russia since June. But FGSZ, Hungary's gas transmission firm, said it suspended the flow to Ukraine on Thursday for "an indefinite period" to ensure pipeline capacity for incoming deliveries.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday on state radio that he had been assured by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, whom he met Monday in Budapest, that Hungary would receive the gas supplies it needs to fill up its storage facilities ahead of winter.