Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar rejects the idea that his country could quickly and completely disconnect from Russian energy sources. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, he said that Budapest will seek new suppliers, but he does not consider a complete break with Russia in the energy sector to be realistic.

“We will try to diversify supplies, but it is impossible to completely disconnect from Russian energy sources,” Magyar said. He also added that, in his opinion, “after the conflict in Ukraine ends, no one will be interested in a new Cold War, not even in the energy sector.”

Magyar is echoing his previous statements to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, where he emphasized that Hungary remains dependent on supplies of Russian oil and cannot afford to sacrifice the competitiveness of its own companies. According to him, the government must ensure the country's energy security while also preventing a sharp increase in costs for households and businesses.

Hungary has long been a sensitive case in the European debate about Russian energy. The European Union has gradually implemented restrictions on the import of Russian fossil fuels since the start of the war in Ukraine, but Central European countries without access to the sea, including Hungary and Slovakia, have pointed out the technical and price limitations of quickly changing suppliers. Analysts quoted in Western media recall that alternatives exist, for example, through the Adria pipeline and the European gas market, but they require investment and may be more expensive.

Magyar, who became the Hungarian Prime Minister after the Tisza party's electoral victory and the end of Viktor Orbán's long era, is trying to improve relations with the European Union. Meanwhile, Brussels has agreed to release part of the frozen European funds for Hungary, which is intended to help the country's economy.

gnews.cz - GH