Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on Friday that Hungary will continue to source fossil fuels from Russia, despite the requests of American President Donald Trump.
Orban said he conveyed to the leader in Washington that giving up Russian energy would be a „disaster” for the Hungarian economy.
Hungary remains one of the few countries in Europe that continues to purchase Russian oil and natural gas following the widespread invasion of Ukraine. Trump, an admirer of the Hungarian leader, called on all NATO countries, including Hungary, at the beginning of the month to cease buying Russian oil, stating that the war would end if this measure were implemented.
In an interview with public radio on Friday, Orban said he recently told Trump that giving up energy imports from Russia would be a "disaster" for Hungary. "I told the US President (...) that if Hungary is cut off from Russian oil and natural gas, immediately, in a minute, Hungary's economic performance will decrease by 4%," Orban affirmed, quoted by Financial Post. "This means that the Hungarian economy would be on its knees."
Some have succeeded, others say it cannot be done
Despite efforts made by European Union countries over the past three years to detach from Russian energy - an attempt to deprive Putin's regime of the revenues that fuel the war in Ukraine - officials in Budapest have insisted that geographical and infrastructure limitations make it nearly impossible to switch to resources from the West.
However, other states in the region, including the landlocked Czech Republic, have managed to completely give up Russian oil after the invasion started. Slovakia, Hungary's neighbor, still maintains its energy imports from Russia.
Despite pressures from both the European Union and the Trump administration, Orban - widely regarded as the European leader with the closest relationship to the Kremlin - said on Friday that when it comes to energy sources, "it is clear what Hungary's interest is and we will act accordingly."
He also stated that Hungary and the United States are "sovereign countries. There is no need for either of them to accept the arguments of the other. America has its arguments and interests, and Hungary has its own."
Turkey received a promise from Trump
American President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that he is prepared to lift sanctions imposed on Turkey's defense sector "almost immediately" if Ankara gives up oil imports from Russia. The statement was made prior to his meeting at the White House with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"I would like them to stop buying oil from Russia," Trump said, according to DW. He recalled that Washington sanctioned Turkey in 2020 after the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. At that time, the US also blocked Ankara's access to the F-35 program, citing the risk of Moscow obtaining sensitive information about the advanced American aircraft.
G.P.