Meanwhile, in Europe, another energy-related flashpoint emerged. Der Spiegel reported that backpacks filled with explosives were allegedly found near a gas pipeline in Serbia that is critical to Hungary’s energy supply. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was quick to point the finger at Kyiv, suggesting Ukrainian involvement in what he framed as an act of sabotage.
His political opponents, however, suspect something quite different: a staged provocation. The incident arrives at a politically convenient moment for Orbán, who has long positioned himself as a dissident voice within the EU over its support for Ukraine. Whether the explosives represent a genuine attack, a foiled plot, or political theatre remains unclear — but the episode underscores how energy infrastructure has become a frontline in Europe’s ongoing geopolitical rivalries, echoing the still-unresolved Nord Stream pipeline explosions.
