“Anyone who demands that we give up cheap Russian energy is an enemy of Hungary—so Ukraine is our enemy,” Orban said at a rally in Szombathely.
Orban also criticized Ukraine’s EU accession efforts, saying that while Hungary should cooperate with its neighbor, Kyiv should “never” become a member of the EU.
On January 26, EU member states approved a phased ban on Russian gas imports—liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2026, and pipeline gas by September 30, 2027. Hungary and Slovakia voted against the plan.
Earlier this week, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that Budapest had filed a legal complaint with the European Court of Justice against the EU’s REPowerEU plan, designed to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
“Without Russian oil and gas, we cannot ensure Hungary’s energy security or maintain affordable energy prices for Hungarian families,” Szijjarto said.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Russia supplied 74% of Hungary’s gas and 86% of its oil in 2024—up from 64% and 66% respectively in 2018.
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Source: PAP