Hungary has publicly rejected a call from U.S. President Donald Trump asking NATO allies to stop buying Russian oil, signalling a widening rift within the trans-Atlantic alliance. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó declared that Hungary’s energy ties with Russia remain “geographically necessary” and that the country will act in line with its own sovereignty.
Hungary’s energy stance draws sharply on Moscow
At the annual Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow earlier this month, Minister Szijjártó reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to procure energy from Russia, despite mounting pressure from both NATO and the European Union. He defended Budapest’s contracts and questioned the EU’s push for diversification, saying that past Russian deliveries have been “reliable”.
Analyses by the Atlantic Council show that Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil has grown from around 61 % on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine to roughly 86 % today, even though alternative routes—such as the Croatian-Adriatic pipeline—are technically feasible.
U.S. pressure meets Hungarian defiance
In his address to the UN General Assembly, President Trump said NATO allies “cannot finance the war in Russia through the purchase of its oil”. Hungary responded via Szijjártó, who told reporters in New York that “geographic reality doesn’t allow us to give up Russian energy supplies”. The next day, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told Hungarian state radio: “Both the U.S. and Hungary are sovereign states. America decides where it buys oil and gas — and Hungary will do the same.”
In a state-radio interview, Orbán warned that dropping Russian oil would hit the Hungarian economy hard, estimating a 4 % GDP drop if cuts were made.
Implications for EU unity and Ukraine war funding
Hungary’s decision is being closely watched because each barrel of Russian oil entering Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline contributes to Moscow’s war-chest in Ukraine. The EU has agreed to phase out Russian oil and gas by 2028, but Budapest and Bratislava continue to resist.
According to expert analysis, Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil is not driven solely by lack of alternatives, but by political choice that undercuts the solidarity of the bloc.
Strategic calculations behind Budapest’s Russia tilt
Behind Hungary’s resistance lies a deeper entanglement with Moscow. By maintaining subsidised Russian crude, Hungary’s domestic oil firm benefits; in exchange, the Kremlin grants Budapest political cover to defy Western pressure. That dynamic has emboldened Orbán to push Hungary’s claims of “sovereignty” while aligning with a partner whose interests diverge sharply from NATO’s strategic goals.
Hungarian analysts warn that this alignment means Budapest is increasingly isolated in Europe — yet the government appears confident that Moscow will protect its interests.
Risks ahead for Hungary and the trans-Atlantic alliance
Should Hungary continue to ignore alliance energy directives, several risks crystallise: deeper alienation from EU decision-making, vulnerability to Russian leverage via energy contracts, and potential economic disruption if the Druzhba pipeline faces further sanctions or attacks. A Ukrainian drone strike recently disrupted the pipeline flow to Hungary, underscoring that dependence on Russian routes carries security and supply risks.
For NATO and the EU, Hungary’s stance sends a signal of fragmentation: a member state openly defying an American appeal to stop funding Russia’s war machine raises questions about alliance cohesion and collective bargaining power.
