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Hungary defends Russian oil imports despite Trump’s Nato demand
Hungary has declared that it will continue buying Russian oil, rejecting calls from the White House and several Nato allies to end energy imports from Moscow.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó insisted that energy security for Hungary is not a political issue but a physical one, citing the country’s dependence on existing infrastructure. “Without Russian supplies, it is impossible to ensure the safe supply of energy,” he said, adding that alternatives were only “a nice dream.”
His remarks came after Donald Trump renewed pressure on Nato countries to cut ties with Russian energy, making new sanctions on Moscow conditional on a complete halt to Russian oil imports by the alliance. While many European countries have reduced their reliance on Russian energy, Hungary and Slovakia remain heavily dependent on oil delivered through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies millions of tonnes annually.
Prime minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Trump, has consistently opposed stricter EU measures against Russia and has maintained cordial relations with the Kremlin. Reports suggest the European Union is considering new trade restrictions that could bypass Budapest’s veto and limit pipeline deliveries.
Western European leaders, including Finland’s president Alexander Stubb and Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski, have urged Hungary to comply with allied efforts. But Szijjártó dismissed these appeals, calling EU officials “fanatics” and stressing that Hungary values its current positive relations with Washington.