European Commission urges Hungary not to buy gas from "war criminal" Putin

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has called on Hungary to intensify efforts to stop the purchase of Russian energy and reduce vulnerability to influence from the Kremlin.

Source: Kadri Simson during Politico’s Sustainability Future Week, reports European Pravda

Details: Gazprom, the largest Russian gas exporter, announced last month that it would increase natural gas supplies to Hungary for the winter following a meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

"Even Hungary knows that by continuing this activity, they grant Russia the right to manipulate their market… I know one political leader in Europe who is shaking hands with this war criminal, but that's it," Simson said.

The European Commissioner pointed out that the EU as a whole has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian gas, and even such vulnerable members as Slovakia and Bulgaria plan to gradually abandon energy imports from Russia by 2027.

Simson also expressed regret that Hungary is continuing to build the Paks II nuclear reactor, which depends on support and nuclear fuel from Russia.

Under an agreement signed last year, Hungary receives 3.5 billion cubic metres of gas a year through Bulgaria and Serbia and another 1 billion cubic metres through a pipeline from Austria. The agreement with Gazprom was signed for 15 years.

In September, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijártó admitted that Budapest continues and will continue to cooperate with Russia because of its dependence on Russian energy resources.

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