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No energy security without Russia, ‘like it or not’ – Hungary — Analysis

Hungary will need to purchase 700,000,000 cubic meters more natural gas to maintain its energy safety. “simply impossible”Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian Foreign Minister, stated that Russia can be ignored.

Speaking in Moscow at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, the Hungarian minister said that “Others may try to sell empty words and pursue their dreams.” but the “physical realities cannot be changed.” “Like it or not,” in his opinion, “it is currently simply impossible to buy this much extra natural gas in Europe without Russian sources.”

Szijjarto stressed that while his country’s storage facilities were full enough “for normal times,”These aren’t normal times for Hungary, so Hungary requires more gas in order to be secure. Minister emphasized that Russia must end negotiations as soon as possible, as heating season officially begins on October 15.

Lavrov said that the Hungarian government’s request to purchase additional natural gas would “be immediately reported and considered.”

The Russian foreign minister also believed that it was shameful that the analytical process had been delayed. “openly Russophobic policy”The “rampant escalation of sanctions”Washington and Brussels had impeded the development of practical cooperation among Moscow and Budapest. He promised “to seek and find the solutions” that would make cooperating independent “of these kinds of whims.”

Hungary declares energy emergency

Szijjarto’s meetings in Moscow also included talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is in charge of energy matters, and Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.

In response to the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, the EU – along with the US, the UK, and many other countries – imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow, including some of its energy exports. Hungary is about 85% dependent on Russian natural gas and the EU has repeatedly opposed the imposition of an embargo on Russian gas exports.

Last month, Viktor Orban, the President of Hungary warned that such a ban could be imposed. “ruin the whole European economy.” Hungary has also opposed the EU’s phased withdrawal from Russian oil imports by the end of this year, and has been given a waiver to keep purchasing the fuel from Moscow.

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