Hungary is beefing up security at its energy sites as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accuses Ukraine of threatening his country's energy supply. Orbán — a vocal ally of U.S. President Donald Trump — published a scathing open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which he accused Kyiv of pursing an "anti-Hungarian policy."

"In recent days, you have blocked the Friendship oil pipeline, which is critical to Hungary’s energy supply," Orbán's open letter, which he published on X, read. "Your actions are against Hungary’s interests and endanger the secure and affordable energy supply of Hungarian families. I therefore call on you to change your anti-Hungarian policy!"

On Wednesday, Orbán ordered increased security at critical energy infrastructure sites, The Associated Press reported. The prime minister's order came as Budapest accused Ukraine of blocking the Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil is delivered to Hungary, but it crosses Kyiv's territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, according to the AP, saying that the pipeline was hit in a Russian drone attack.

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In a video posted on social media, Orbán claimed Ukraine was using an "oil blockade" to pressure Hungary and that Hungarian national security services showed Ukraine was "preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary’s energy system," the AP reported.

"We will deploy soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities," Orbán said, according to the AP. "The police will patrol with increased forces around designated power plants, distribution stations and control centers."

The accusations lobbed against Ukraine also come as Orbán faces an upcoming election. As the election nears, Hungary has seen billboards across the country showing AI-generated images of Zelenskyy holding out his hand as if asking for money while surrounded by European officials, according to the AP.

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Hungary recently threatened to block a proposed €90 billion European Union loan to Ukraine — worth roughly $106 billion — over the blockade of the Druzhba pipeline.

Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday that "Ukraine is blackmailing" his country and that Kyiv was coordinating with Belgium and the Hungarian opposition to "push fuel prices higher before the elections."

"By blocking oil transit to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, breaching its commitments to the European Union. We will not give in to this blackmail," Szijjártó added.

Orbán also accused Ukraine, the Hungarian opposition and Belgium of coordinating to exert pressure on Budapest.

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In the letter released Thursday, Orbán, who has a close relationship with the Kremlin, also said that Ukraine had refused "to accept the position of the sovereign Hungarian government and the Hungarian people regarding the Russia–Ukraine war." Additionally, he accused Ukraine of trying to "force Hungary" into the war with Russia.

"We, the Hungarian people, are not responsible for the situation in which Ukraine finds itself. We sympathise with the Ukrainian people, but we do not wish to participate in the war. We do not want to finance the war effort, and we do not want to pay more for energy," Orbán wrote.

The Hungarian prime minister ended his letter with demands that Ukraine reopen the oil pipeline and "refrain from any further attacks on Hungary's energy security," as well as a demand for "more respect for Hungary."

Neither Zelenskyy's office nor the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.

An abortion rights advocate who was appointed to lead the University of Notre Dame’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies has decided "not to move forward" with her appointment.

In a Thursday message obtained by Fox News Digital, Mary Gallagher, professor of global affairs and the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, wrote, "Dear Keough School community, Today I would like to share that Professor Susan Ostermann, a member of the Keough School faculty who was recently appointed director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, has decided not to move forward as director." 

In the message, Gallagher also said, "Susan is a respected scholar of South Asian politics and regulatory governance whose research and teaching reflect the intellectual rigor and interdisciplinary excellence at the heart of both the Liu Institute and the Keough School of Global Affairs. I am grateful for her willingness to serve and for the thoughtfulness with which she approached this decision." 

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In January, the prestigious Catholic university announced that Ostermann, who joined the university in 2017 as a global affairs professor, would begin her role as director of the Asian studies center in July.

Ostermann’s appointment drew fierce opposition from some corners due to her outspoken support for abortion rights.

According to Sycamore Trust, an unofficial organization of Notre Dame alumni, at least 19 cardinals, archbishops, and bishops opposed her appointment.

Sycamore Trust’s list includes Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who said, "I fully support Bishop Kevin Rhoades in his challenge to Notre Dame to rectify its poor judgment."

The list also included Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona–Rochester, who said, "I believe that going ahead with this appointment is repugnant to the identity and mission of that great center of Catholic learning."

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Ostermann has been an outspoken advocate for abortion in her writings. 

In 2022, Ostermann co-authored a Chicago Tribune article titled, "Lies about abortion have dictated our health policy," with former Notre Dame professor Tamara Kay, where the two wrote that "almost 90% of abortions occur during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy when there are no babies or fetuses. There are only blastocysts or embryos so tiny they are too small to be seen on an abdominal ultrasound."

The authors further wrote that abortion "doesn’t cause cancer, it doesn’t affect future fertility, and most people feel relief after an abortion and do not regret their decision. Up to 11 weeks, medication abortions are generally performed using mifepristone and misoprostol, which are safer than taking Tylenol."

In another 2022 article published by Salon, titled, "Forced pregnancy and childbirth are violence against women — and also terrible health policy," Ostermann and Kay wrote, "Criminalizing abortion results in irreparable harm. In fact, it actually has the opposite policy effect that anti-abortion advocates say they want: It can increase abortion rates, unintended pregnancies and infant mortality."

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They also wrote "Abortion access is freedom-enhancing, in the truest sense of the word. Consistent with integral human development that emphasizes social justice and human dignity, abortion access respects the inherent dignity of women, their freedom to make choices and to evaluate medical and other risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth."

Students at the University of Notre Dame previously said they were concerned about the decision to appoint Ostermann. 

Additionally, Diane A. Desierto, professor of law and global affairs, as well as Robert M. Gimello, a research professor emeritus, told Fox News Digital that they were cutting ties with the university's Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies in protest over Ostermann’s appointment. 

Erin Blasko, a media relations official at Notre Dame, told Fox News Digital, "We respect Professor Ostermann's decision to decline the directorship of the Liu Institute.  We appreciate her deep commitment to the Institute's mission and her desire to advance its important work. She remains a highly valued member of our faculty, and we are grateful for her continued contributions as a scholar-teacher and member of the Notre Dame community."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ostermann said, "My only goal in accepting the Liu Institute Directorship was to serve as a steward for the Institute’s world-class faculty, students and staff; it is not a position I applied for, but I was truly honored to take it on. At present, the focus on my appointment risks overshadowing the vital work the Institute performs, which it should be allowed to pursue without undue distraction."

Ostermann added, "At the same time, it has become clear that there is work to do at Notre Dame to build a community where a variety of voices can flourish. Both academic inquiry and the full realization of human dignity demand this of us. Towards both of these ends, I have decided not to move forward as Director. Instead, I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the university to build a campus community where all can speak openly on the issues that matter to them most, and to continuing collaborations with colleagues at the Liu Institute and beyond."