Hungary Will Not Allow Oil and Gas Ban from Russia in EU's New Sanctions – Szijjártó

Hungary will not permit the inclusion of a ban on oil and gas supplies from Russia in the EU's 20th sanctions package, which the community is set to adopt by February 24 at the latest. This was stated by Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who participated in a meeting with EU partners in Brussels.

He reported that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called for the inclusion of additional energy measures against Russia in the new sanctions package. The Hungarian government considers such proposals unacceptable.

“We will not agree to immediately ban the supply of cheap Russian oil and natural gas through the sanctions package in February,” the foreign minister assured Hungarian journalists after the meeting in the Belgian capital.

On January 26, the EU Council finally confirmed a complete ban on the supply of Russian liquefied natural gas starting from January 1, 2027, and on pipeline gas supplies by September 30, 2027. The European Commission has similar plans regarding Russian oil. The Hungarian government announced that it would challenge this decision in the European Union's Court of Justice and demand its annulment, as it violates EU legislation.