Part 4/9:
On the European front, the dynamics are equally complex. While many European countries have begun to pivot away from Russian gas, nations such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria continued to rely on imports via the pipeline. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban's favorable stance towards Putin presented Ukraine with leverage in political negotiations within the European Union and NATO. By maintaining gas flow, Ukraine could wield influence over these countries, knowing that disrupting supply could lead to substantial political ramifications.