Hungary has drawn international attention by firmly rejecting U.S. demands to cease its imports of Russian oil and gas, a move that has intensified debates within NATO and the European Union over energy security, diplomatic alliances, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. On September 23, 2025, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made it clear that his country would not abandon Russian energy resources, despite mounting pressure from the United States and several European allies.
"We can’t ensure the safe supply [of energy products] for our country without Russian oil or gas sources," Szijjártó told reporters, as noted by The Guardian. His words echoed a familiar refrain from Budapest: Hungary’s energy security, he argued, is inextricably linked to Russian supplies, and alternative sources are not feasible in the near term due to infrastructure limitations. "It may be good to imagine buying oil or gas from somewhere other than Russia, but in reality, it can only be done where we have the relevant infrastructure," he explained.
This public stance came in direct response to a forceful demand from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been urging NATO allies to halt all Russian oil imports as a prerequisite for imposing major new sanctions on Moscow. "I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA," Trump declared, according to RBC Ukraine. These calls for unity and escalation coincided with a series of ultimatums aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
However, Hungary isn’t alone in its resistance. Slovakia, another EU and NATO member, continues to import Russian oil alongside Hungary. Together, the two countries import about 5 million tons of oil annually via the Druzhba pipeline, a Soviet-era conduit that has become a symbol of Europe’s complicated energy entanglements with Russia. While the rest of the EU has slashed Russian oil imports to just 3% of total supply after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Hungary and Slovakia were granted exemptions on energy security grounds.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s leader and one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe, has consistently criticized Ukraine and maintained working relations with the Kremlin. This has placed Budapest at odds with much of the European bloc, which has rallied behind Kyiv and imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow. Orbán’s stance has also raised eyebrows in Washington, where bipartisan frustration with Hungary’s position is growing.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican and close Trump ally, did not mince words when voicing his expectations. "When it comes to buying Russian oil, it is now virtually down to Hungary and Slovakia. I hope and expect them to step up to the plate soon to help us end this bloodbath. If not, consequences should and will follow," Graham said, as reported by Bloomberg and The Guardian. This warning underscores the increasing impatience among U.S. lawmakers who see continued Russian energy purchases as undermining efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Other European leaders have echoed these concerns. Finnish President Alexander Stubb supported the U.S. demand, emphasizing the need for increased pressure on Hungary and Slovakia. "Stopping oil and gas purchases from Russia is a key condition," Stubb asserted. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also threw his weight behind the initiative, pointedly stating, "I hope President Orbán in Budapest hears this and acts on President Trump’s appeal to stop buying Russian oil. Hungary can get its oil from the south." The suggestion that Hungary could diversify its energy sources highlights the broader European frustration with Budapest’s perceived intransigence.
The European Union, for its part, is not sitting idly by. According to Bloomberg, EU officials are exploring the possibility of imposing trade restrictions to halt supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. Notably, such a decision could be made without unanimous consent, allowing other member states to bypass the opposition of Hungary and Slovakia. This maneuver would mark a significant escalation in the EU’s efforts to enforce its energy embargoes and could further isolate Budapest and Bratislava within the bloc.
Amid this diplomatic storm, Hungary’s government has pushed back against criticism from Western Europe. Szijjártó, the foreign minister, dismissed Western European politicians as "fanatics" and complained that rational dialogue was impossible. Yet, in a somewhat contradictory note, he also claimed that relations with the United States had improved. "The US is a friend now. So having the American president as your friend is totally different compared to when they put pressure on you, regardless of what is coming from Brussels is very, very severe," Szijjártó remarked, as cited by RBC Ukraine.
Despite these assurances, the numbers tell a stark story. The International Monetary Fund reported that in 2024, Hungary imported 74% of its gas and a staggering 86% of its oil from Russia—figures that are up significantly from 64% and 66%, respectively, in 2018. These statistics highlight just how dependent Hungary remains on Russian energy, even as most of Europe has sought to break free from Moscow’s grip.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has weighed in as well, suggesting that Trump is deeply dissatisfied with Hungary and Slovakia’s continued purchases of Russian oil. According to Zelenskyy, this ongoing trade is a source of frustration for Washington and an obstacle to the kind of united front many in the West believe is necessary to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end.
For Hungary, the path forward is fraught with challenges. While Budapest insists that it cannot ensure stable energy supplies without Russian imports, critics argue that the country is dragging its feet on energy diversification and using infrastructure limitations as a pretext for political alignment with Moscow. The suggestion from Poland and others that Hungary could "get its oil from the south" points to alternative routes and suppliers, but developing new infrastructure and securing reliable contracts is a process that could take years, not months.
Meanwhile, the broader geopolitical context continues to shift. As the EU debates new measures to enforce its embargoes and the U.S. signals a willingness to impose consequences, Hungary and Slovakia find themselves increasingly isolated. The pressure is mounting, not just from Brussels and Washington, but from their own neighbors who see continued Russian energy imports as undermining the collective effort to end the war in Ukraine.
It remains to be seen whether Hungary will bend to international pressure or double down on its current course. What’s clear is that the stakes are high—not just for Hungary’s energy security, but for the unity of NATO, the effectiveness of Western sanctions, and the future of the conflict in Ukraine.
