Hungary can't abandon Russian oil, Magyar explains why
Photo: Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
Hungary will buy oil and gas from as many sources as possible, including Russia. The reason is the threat to the country’s energy supply posed by sanctions, the Druzhba pipeline, and the situation in the Middle East, stated the leader of Hungary’s Tisza Party, Péter Magyar, at a press conference.
"The Druzhba pipeline and what has happened there show a threat to Hungary’s energy supply. What is happening in Tehran, in Iran, also poses a risk to our energy supply. Therefore, it is in Hungary’s interest to diversify our energy balance and supply as much as possible," he said.
Magyar stressed the need to expand cross-border infrastructure and sign international agreements on behalf of Hungary or MOL, an international oil and gas company headquartered in Budapest.
According to him, this is necessary so that Hungary can purchase energy resources from the East, South, West, or North to supply households and businesses.
Sanctions and Europe’s oil purchases
"Obviously, the war is still ongoing, and that is why sanctions are in place. But we see what is happening in Iran, in Tehran: sometimes sanctions are lifted, because otherwise the global economy would collapse and countries would go bankrupt due to an oil shortage," Magyar said.
He noted that once the war ends, Europe will immediately lift sanctions. The Tisza leader also pointed out that Hungary is a neighbor of Russia and added that it is not in Europe’s interest to buy raw materials at higher prices, "as this undermines our competitiveness."
"Sometimes it’s easy just to say things, and I understand moral concerns and matters of principle. I will defend human rights as much as possible, no less than anyone else, but let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot. That’s why we will try to buy oil and gas from as many sources as possible," Magyar emphasized.
The Druzhba oil pipeline has become a tool of pressure by the Hungarian government on Kyiv. Hungary blocked a €90 billion EU loan and linked its approval to the resumption of oil supplies.
Meanwhile, Sweden has openly said it is ready to consider Article 7 of the EU Treaty — a mechanism that could strip Hungary of its voting rights. European Council President Antonio Costa has described Orbán’s behavior as "unacceptable."
