Hungary says 'impossible' to ensure safe supply without Russian energy

LONDON

The Hungarian foreign minister refused to stop buying Russian oil on Tuesday despite US President Donald Trump's demand, saying it is not possible to ensure a safe supply for the country without it.

"For us, energy supplies are a purely physical question," Peter Szijjarto told The Guardian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He said it can be "nice to dream" about buying oil and gas from somewhere other than Russia, but noted that Hungary can only buy from where they have infrastructure.

"We can’t ensure the safe supply [of energy products] for our country without Russian oil or gas sources," said Szijjarto, adding he understands Trump’s approach -- demanding NATO allies stop buying Russian oil.

Szijjarto criticized Baltic and northern European countries last week for urging Hungary to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, saying the advice ignores Budapest's geographic limitations.

"The irony is when Baltic and Northern countries with seacoasts lecture us about successfully breaking away from Russian energy. They forget one tiny detail: Hungary is landlocked. We have no coastline where an LNG terminal or refinery could be built overnight," Szijjarto wrote on the US social media platform, X.

LONDON

The Hungarian foreign minister refused to stop buying Russian oil on Tuesday despite US President Donald Trump's demand, saying it is not possible to ensure a safe supply for the country without it.

"For us, energy supplies are a purely physical question," Peter Szijjarto told The Guardian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He said it can be "nice to dream" about buying oil and gas from somewhere other than Russia, but noted that Hungary can only buy from where they have infrastructure.

Szijjarto criticized Baltic and northern European countries last week for urging Hungary to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, saying the advice ignores Budapest's geographic limitations.