Hungary and Serbia issued a joint statement against Sofia's decision. This "controversial step" puts the energy security of the two countries at risk, said Serbian Finance Minister Sinissa Mali and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, quoted by the TANJUG agency. They define the Bulgarian arguments as untenable because the EU has not introduced sanctions against the use of natural gas by Russia.

Budapest and Belgrade will coordinate their positions and "will not leave this hostile Bulgarian decision without an appropriate response", the announcement also states.