SPIEF-2025.Global energy market: seeking a balance between maker and consumer interests.Peter Szijjarto, Minister of abroad Affairs and Trade of Hungary.© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev
Hungary has received assurances from Russia that oil and gas supplies under long-term contracts will proceed despite efforts by the EU and Ukraine to disrupt them, said abroad Minister Peter Szijjarto on Thursday at the global economical Forum in St. Petersburg (SPIEF 2025).
Hungary has opposed the EU's sanctions on Russian energy since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, claiming that imports are crucial for national interests.The country has a long-term contract with Gazprom and receives most oil and gas from Russia.
Gas is supplied mainly by Turkish Stream pipeline by Bulgaria and Serbia.
Budapest besides works with Russian Rosatom to grow Paks atomic power plant.The Minister for abroad Affairs commented on the European Commission's proposal to ban Russian gas imports, including LNG, to the EU from 1 January 2026.
For inland countries specified as Hungary, this limit would have been in force since the beginning of 2028.
According to Shijjarto, the heads of the largest Russian energy companies signalled that they were ready to proceed to supply inexpensive natural gas and oil to Hungary despite the challenges and limitations."We agreed with Russian officials and leaders of energy companies that we would proceed our cooperation despite the efforts of Brussels and [Kijov] to undermine it" “Shijjarto wrote on X.
He made a message after meetings with Russia's first Deputy Prime Minister Denise Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Nowak, CEO Gazprom Alexey Miller and CEO Rosatom Alexey Lichachev.Szijjarto said that oil supplies are continuing, gas flow through the TurkStream pipeline is continuing, and the expansion of the Paks atomic power plant – known as Paks II – is progressing.
"We will not let Brussels force [Hungarian] families to pay 2-4 times more for energy" – he added.Its comments come after the European Commission proposed to end all remaining Russian gas imports into the EU by the end of 2027.
Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen presented the plan on Tuesday after the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen approved it.
It includes a ban on fresh contracts for Russian gas from 2026 and a complete withdrawal the following year.This proposal is opposed by Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and, reportedly, Italy.
It is expected to be introduced as commercial government that will not require unanimous consent from all EU associate States.Shijarto called this plan ‘absolute madness’, informing that it can increase fuel prices and undermine national sovereignty.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban promised to block this move.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/russia/620011-hungary-Russian-energy/
