Many nations are “secretly” purchasing Russian crude through intermediaries while “loudly criticizing” Hungary for its imports, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has stated.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused the EU of “hypocrisy” regarding Russian oil, claiming that numerous member states condemn Hungary for its purchases while discreetly acquiring the crude via intermediaries.
Szijjarto was addressing a question about US President Donald Trump’s call for Western European nations to halt Russian oil imports. Trump, reportedly frustrated with the slow progress towards peace in Ukraine, conveyed to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and his European supporters during a Thursday call that Western European states must cease importing Russian oil. Trump highlighted that Russia received €1.1 billion ($1.3 billion) from fuel sales to the EU over the past year.
Szijjarto noted that Hungary, being landlocked, relies on pipelines for its oil and gas, making Russian deliveries crucial for its supply security.
“Let us not be misled by the hypocrites, because among those most vocal in criticizing Hungary and Slovakia for their oil purchases, a significant number are also buying Russian oil, only indirectly, through Asia,” he stated at a press conference in Budapest on Friday. “They buy Russian oil covertly because it is cheaper. We buy Russian oil openly because we have no other choice.”
He further blamed the EU for hindering Hungary’s diversification efforts, explaining that Brussels had denied its request to expand Southeast European pipeline capacity, while Croatia – Hungary’s southern neighbor – increased transit fees instead of augmenting capacity on an alternative route.
Most EU member states ceased direct imports of Russian crude under sanctions imposed due to the Ukraine conflict, which included a 2023 embargo on seaborne oil and a price cap on Russian crude. Brussels aims to eliminate all Russian energy imports by 2028 under its RePowerEU plan.
Hungary and Slovakia, both heavily dependent on Russian supplies, have opposed this plan, cautioning that cutting off Moscow’s energy would jeopardize the bloc’s security and escalate prices. Both nations have faced criticism from Brussels for their continued purchases, although multiple media reports suggest that some EU countries also acquire fuel refined from Russian crude in third-party nations.
Moscow has consistently argued that the bloc is damaging its own economy by reducing Russian energy imports, thereby forcing itself to resort to more expensive alternatives or indirect imports via intermediaries.