Hungary has expressed satisfaction with its energy cooperation with Russia, a stance voiced by Peter Szijjártó, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations. He highlighted Gazprom as a dependable partner for many years and emphasized that the arrangement has reliably supplied gas in a timely manner under the long-standing contract with Moscow.
Szijjártó noted that there is no reason to alter the contract, which has guided Hungary’s gas imports for decades. He reaffirmed the country’s readiness to maintain the current terms, stressing that continuity in this agreement supports Hungary’s energy stability and overall economic function.
On September 6, the minister reiterated Hungary’s dependence on oil and gas from Russia and acknowledged that, at present, there are no viable alternatives that could fully replace these supplies. He underscored that Russian natural gas currently plays a crucial role in keeping the country running and that forecasting precise outcomes if the relationship were disrupted remains uncertain. He also pointed out that if Hungary were to back away from the planned expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant, it would complicate efforts to renew the project while keeping costs and timelines manageable.
The diplomat added that the government has been working to diversify energy sources and routes for fuel distribution. However, such diversification has been constrained by the limited capacity of regional pipelines. He also referenced the oil supply from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline, which traverses Ukrainian territory and covers a substantial portion of Hungary’s needs.
Earlier statements from Hungarian officials touched on Russia’s assurances regarding gas supplies, reinforcing the sense of reliance on Russian energy amid ongoing regional discussions and policy considerations.