Oct 16, 2025
Hungary criticizes EU energy policy at a conference in Moscow.
Hungary would face negative consequences if it lost access to Russian energy, stated Budapest's foreign minister during his visit to Moscow. Peter Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary would not bow to external pressure regarding its energy decisions.
While attending the Russian Energy Week forum, he highlighted Hungary's differing stance from most NATO members on issues related to Moscow, especially as NATO defense ministers were convening in Brussels to discuss military aid for Ukraine. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Hungary has continued to rely on Russian energy, attracting criticism from various EU and NATO allies.
Szijjarto asserted that Hungary's national interest was the priority concerning energy supplies, noting that Russia had consistently met its obligations. He questioned the rationale behind severing the relationship with Russia.
He also reported that Russia had supplied around 3.6 million metric tons of oil to Hungary this year, with projections of 5 to 5.5 million tons in 2025, and indicated that Hungary intends to sustain that level in 2026.
The tension with Brussels is escalating as Hungary opposes the European Commission's plan to eliminate imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027. Hungary had previously signed a 15-year agreement in 2021 with Russia for 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually and increased its purchases last year, importing about 7.5 billion cubic meters through the Turkstream pipeline.
So far this year, Hungary has received over 6 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, and it mainly obtains crude oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline. Szijjarto criticized Brussels' desire to reduce pipelines, questioning the safety of having only one.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously urged Hungary to halt its Russian oil purchases, aiming to pressure NATO allies to sever energy ties with Moscow due to the Ukraine conflict. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that renouncing Russian energy would severely harm Hungary's economy.
While attending the Russian Energy Week forum, he highlighted Hungary's differing stance from most NATO members on issues related to Moscow, especially as NATO defense ministers were convening in Brussels to discuss military aid for Ukraine. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Hungary has continued to rely on Russian energy, attracting criticism from various EU and NATO allies.
Szijjarto asserted that Hungary's national interest was the priority concerning energy supplies, noting that Russia had consistently met its obligations. He questioned the rationale behind severing the relationship with Russia.
He also reported that Russia had supplied around 3.6 million metric tons of oil to Hungary this year, with projections of 5 to 5.5 million tons in 2025, and indicated that Hungary intends to sustain that level in 2026.
The tension with Brussels is escalating as Hungary opposes the European Commission's plan to eliminate imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027. Hungary had previously signed a 15-year agreement in 2021 with Russia for 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually and increased its purchases last year, importing about 7.5 billion cubic meters through the Turkstream pipeline.
So far this year, Hungary has received over 6 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, and it mainly obtains crude oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline. Szijjarto criticized Brussels' desire to reduce pipelines, questioning the safety of having only one.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously urged Hungary to halt its Russian oil purchases, aiming to pressure NATO allies to sever energy ties with Moscow due to the Ukraine conflict. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that renouncing Russian energy would severely harm Hungary's economy.