Hungary must continue to fight for access to affordable Russian oil in the coming months, not because of its origin but because of its price, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday in Budapest.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the minister said in the programme Igazság órája (Hour of Justice) that cheap Russian oil remains a cornerstone of Hungary’s utility cost reduction policy.
‘If access to cheap Russian oil is cut off, we will also have to say goodbye to reduced utility costs, and household energy bills in Hungary would triple compared to current levels,’ he warned.
Szijjártó noted that the European Commission is expected to present a proposal on 15 April to fully ban Russian oil imports into the European Union, shortly after Hungary’s elections.
He argued that such a move would deal a serious blow to the European economy, particularly amid ongoing tensions around Iran, which he said are already disrupting a significant share of global oil supply.
‘In a situation where the delivery of Middle Eastern oil is uncertain, removing Russian oil from Europe would mean that Europe will suffer the most,’ he said, adding that the continent should prepare for substantial price increases.
The minister stressed that protecting Hungary from these impacts requires a sovereign national government capable of securing affordable energy supplies.
He criticized the Tisza Party, claiming it would not prioritize access to cheaper energy sources and would instead favour more expensive alternatives, which he said would benefit Western energy companies.
According to Szijjártó, abandoning Russian energy sources would lead to the end of Hungary’s utility price reduction scheme and significantly increase household costs.
‘If Russian energy supplies are cut off, the alternatives available are much more expensive than Russian oil and gas,’ he said.
He concluded by reaffirming that the government will continue to advocate for access to affordable Russian energy in order to maintain current levels of household utility costs.
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