Moscow/Budapest, May 24 -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday accused Ukraine of orchestrating the European Commission's drive to phase out Russian energy, warning that such efforts could severely damage European economies while serving Kyiv's interests.

"In reality, the Ukrainians are behind the entire policy promoting the ban on Russian energy resources," Orban said during a broadcast interview with Hungary's Kossuth Radio.

"It is therefore logical to speak of a Ukrainian energy threat. Ukrainians are demanding things from Europeans that will devastate European families. It also threatens Hungarian families. The plan is to prevent anyone from buying gas and oil from Russia," reports Moscow's state-owned-media agency TASS. ...