Can Hungary wean itself off Russian energy, as its new leader has promised?
Summary
Hungary’s newly elected leader, Peter Magyar, has promised to reduce Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy and align more closely with the European Union, shifting away from the policies of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Despite EU sanctions and plans to phase out Russian oil and gas by 2027, Hungary remains heavily reliant on Russian energy, especially oil supplied through the Druzhba pipeline and natural gas imports.Key Facts
- Peter Magyar won the election and aims to move Hungary closer to the EU and reduce reliance on Russia.
- Hungary has been dependent on Russian oil, increasing from 61% in 2021 to 93% in 2025.
- Much of Hungary’s Russian oil comes via the Druzhba pipeline running through Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia.
- The Druzhba pipeline was damaged in Ukraine in January 2026, reportedly by a Russian airstrike, causing supply disruptions.
- Former Prime Minister Orban blocked a large EU loan to Ukraine until the pipeline was repaired.
- Ukraine expects the pipeline to be fixed by the end of April 2026, hoping Hungary will lift its veto on the EU loan.
- Hungary relies on Russian natural gas for about 75% of its imports, largely supplied through long-term deals with Gazprom and the TurkStream pipeline.
- The EU plans to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by late 2027, but Hungary’s dependence has increased recently.
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