Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has once again made headlines across Europe and beyond, declaring that his country will continue to purchase fossil fuels from Russia, even as pressure mounts from key allies and the European Union. On September 26, 2025, Orbán told state radio that he had recently spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump—who has long been both an admirer and political ally—and made it clear that dropping Russian energy imports would be catastrophic for Hungary’s already fragile economy.
“I told the U.S. president ... that if Hungary is cut off from Russian oil and natural gas, immediately, within a minute, Hungarian economic performance will drop by 4%,” Orbán said during the interview, as reported by the Associated Press. “It means the Hungarian economy would be on its knees.” The message was direct and unequivocal, underscoring Orbán’s determination to chart a course based on what he calls Hungary’s national interests, regardless of mounting international criticism.
Hungary’s stance stands in stark contrast to much of the rest of Europe. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, most European Union member states have worked tirelessly to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, their reliance on Russian oil and natural gas. The goal: deprive President Vladimir Putin of the revenues that help fuel the ongoing war in Ukraine. But Hungary, citing geographical and infrastructural constraints, has refused to follow suit. According to Business Standard, “Hungarian officials have insisted that geographical and infrastructural constraints make it nearly impossible to transition to using fossil fuels supplied from the West.”
That’s not to say it’s impossible for every country in the region. The Czech Republic, also landlocked and once similarly dependent on Russian energy, has managed to fully cease its purchases of Russian oil since the invasion. Slovakia, Hungary’s neighbor, continues to maintain Russian energy imports, highlighting the patchwork of policies and capabilities that define Central Europe’s energy landscape.
Trump’s intervention in the debate is notable. Earlier in September, the former U.S. president called on all NATO countries—including Hungary—to stop buying Russian oil, arguing that such a move would quickly bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end. “Trump, an admirer of the long-serving Hungarian leader, earlier this month called on all NATO countries including Hungary to cease purchasing Russian oil, since he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if they did so,” reported the Associated Press. For Trump, cutting off this revenue stream is a matter of both principle and strategy.
But Orbán, often described as the EU leader with the closest relationship to the Kremlin, remains unmoved. “It is clear what is in Hungary’s interest and we will act accordingly,” he said, as quoted by Devdiscourse. “Hungary and the United States are sovereign countries. There is no need for either of us to accept the arguments of the other. America has its arguments and interests, and Hungary does too.”
This theme of sovereignty—of a small nation defending its right to make its own choices, even under international pressure—has long been a cornerstone of Orbán’s political messaging. “It is clear what is in Hungary’s interest and we will act accordingly,” he reiterated, according to Business Standard, emphasizing that Hungary would not bow to outside demands, whether from Washington, Brussels, or elsewhere.
Still, the economic rationale behind Hungary’s decision is not without controversy. Orbán’s warning that a sudden cutoff from Russian oil and gas would cause Hungary’s economic performance to drop by 4% is a stark one. “Abandoning Russian energy would be catastrophic for Hungary's economy,” reported Devdiscourse. The prime minister’s argument is simple: Hungary’s energy infrastructure is deeply intertwined with Russian supplies, and alternatives are not easily or quickly available.
The European Union, meanwhile, has spent the last three years trying to wean itself off Russian energy. The effort has been uneven, with some countries moving faster than others. For Hungary, the path to diversification is complicated by its geography, lack of access to seaports, and the design of its existing energy networks. “Despite three years of efforts by European Union countries to wean off of Russian energy supplies—an effort to deprive President Vladimir Putin of revenue that helps fuel the war in Ukraine—Hungarian officials have insisted that geographical and infrastructural constraints make it nearly impossible to transition to using fossil fuels supplied from the West,” wrote the Associated Press.
Yet, critics argue that Hungary could do more. The Czech Republic’s success in ending Russian oil imports is often cited as a counterexample. “Other countries in the region, including the similarly landlocked Czech Republic, have managed to fully cease their purchases of Russian oil since Moscow launched its invasion,” noted the Associated Press. For some European leaders and analysts, Hungary’s continued purchases are less about geography and more about political will.
Orbán’s relationship with Russia—and with Putin personally—has long raised eyebrows in Brussels and Washington. He is widely considered the EU leader with the closest ties to the Kremlin, a reputation that only deepened after the Ukraine war began. This closeness has fueled speculation about Hungary’s motivations and its willingness to break ranks with European partners on key issues.
For the Hungarian government, however, the calculation appears to be strictly pragmatic. “Hungary is one of the last European nations still buying Russian oil and natural gas, even as Europe attempts to cut off revenue to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine,” wrote Devdiscourse. Orbán’s defenders argue that the country’s energy needs—and the well-being of its citizens—must come first, especially when alternatives are expensive or logistically difficult to obtain.
As the debate continues, the stakes remain high—not just for Hungary, but for the broader European response to Russia’s aggression. The EU’s ability to present a united front against Moscow is complicated by the differing energy realities and political priorities of its member states. Hungary’s decision to prioritize its own interests, even in the face of criticism from both the EU and the United States, is a vivid example of the challenges facing European unity.
Orbán’s message to Trump and to the world was clear: Hungary will not be pressured into making choices that, in its view, would harm its economy or its sovereignty. “There is no need for either of us to accept the arguments of the other. America has its arguments and interests, and Hungary does too,” he said. Whether this stance will change as the war in Ukraine drags on—and as the economic and political costs mount—remains to be seen. For now, Hungary stands firm, defiant, and determined to chart its own course.