Orbán says dropping Russian energy would bring Hungary’s economy to its knees, despite Trump pressure

Budapest — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday that Hungary will continue to source fossil fuels from Russia despite demands from U.S. President Donald Trump, and that he informed Trump that dropping Russian energy would be a disaster for Hungary’s economy. In remarks to state radio, Orbán said he recently told the U.S. president that if Hungary is cut off from Russian oil and natural gas, immediately, within a minute, Hungarian economic performance would drop by 4%, and that the economy would be on its knees.

Orbán argued that Hungary will act in its own interest, noting that Hungary and the United States are sovereign countries and there is no need to accept the arguments of the other. He said, “It is clear what is in Hungary’s interest and we will act accordingly,” adding that “America has its arguments and interests, and Hungary does too.”

In the broader context, European Union efforts over the past three years to reduce dependence on Russian energy have faced stiff challenges from member states with geographic or infrastructural constraints. Hungary remains among the few EU countries still purchasing Russian oil and natural gas since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. By contrast, the Czech Republic has managed to fully cease Russian oil purchases, while neighboring Slovakia has continued to import Russian energy. EU and Western officials have urged faster diversification, arguing that cutting Russian energy would reduce funding for the war, but Hungary has emphasized its own energy security needs and the logistical realities it faces.

Orbán’s stance reflects a long-running tension between U.S. aims to pressure allies to sever Russian energy ties and Hungary’s asserted sovereignty over its energy policy. The Hungarian leader, widely seen as the EU figure with some of the closest ties to the Kremlin, has repeatedly argued that geopolitical alignment and economic realities must guide decisions about fuel sources. Trump’s calls this month for NATO members to halt Russian energy purchases have added another layer to the debate, highlighting the ongoing friction between Washington and Budapest over how to balance security guarantees with energy security and economic stability.

The remarks underscore the delicate balance Hungary seeks to strike between maintaining international alliances and safeguarding its own energy interests as Europe continues to reassess its exposure to Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.