Hungary defends Russian energy use

Claims the country lacks alternatives to Russian oil and gas may be exaggerated, although higher costs and reduced security of supply are legitimate concerns.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto delivered a combative address at the Gastech conference in Milan in September, defending his country’s continued reliance on Russian oil and gas while attacking EU energy policy. Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia are among a handful of EU member states that still depend heavily on Russian hydrocarbons. Hungary sourced 86% of its oil from Russia last year, according to Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), while Slovakia is nearly 100% dependent. They do so thanks to exemptions the European Commission granted them to an embargo on Russian oil that came into force in 2023. These exemptions have no set expiry. Likewise, the