US Ambassador criticizes Hungary for its reliance on Russian energy
Archive photo: Peter Szijjarto and Sergei Lavrov (russiaeu ru)
Hungary's reliance on Russian energy is dangerous and unnecessary. The country's government supports Putin's war party, according to US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman.
It is noted that Hungary has made it clear that it does not plan to stop importing natural gas from Russia and seeks to deepen business ties with Moscow, which has prompted a sharp rebuke from Washington.
"While countries in western Europe have made serious efforts to wean themselves off Russian gas since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, landlocked Hungary has been receiving 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia under a 15-year deal signed in 2021," writes Reuters.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who was in Saint Petersburg for an economic forum, stated that Hungary is satisfied with its cooperation with Russia in the gas supply sector and does not plan to stop purchasing gas from Moscow.
The Hungarian government is loyal to the Russian leadership
"It is impossible to ensure Hungary's energy supply without Russian energy resources and that has nothing to do with politics or ideology but is rooted in plain facts of physics," the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.
It is worth noting that Hungary is the only member of the European Union whose government maintains loyal ties with the Russian leadership, despite the war in Ukraine.
The agency writes that the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has roiled EU and NATO allies by maintaining close business ties with Russia and refusing to send weapons to Ukraine.
The USA's reaction
Szijjarto's statements have already drawn sharp criticism from Washington.
"Hungary's government says it is the "party of peace" while continuing to stand with Putin's party of war. Hungary’s addiction to Russian energy is dangerous and unnecessary," US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman said.
According to him, the laws of physics in Hungary are no different from the laws of physics of each of Hungary's EU partners, each of which has decided to reduce its dependence on Vladimir Putin.
Hungary's position on the war in Ukraine
Although the Hungarian government has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it continues to cooperate with the Kremlin and constantly calls on Kyiv to hold “peace talks” with Moscow.
Budapest regularly tries to use opportunities to block the allocation of aid to Ukraine. Recently, the Financial Times wrote that Hungary slowed down the EU's initiative to help Ukraine with the revenues from Russian assets.
