Xinhua, Beijing, November 15th - Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán stated on the 14th that the EU's decision last month to ban the import of Russian natural gas was "unlawful," and Hungary would sue the EU.
According to AFP, Orbán said during an interview with Hungarian media: "This solution is contrary to the values of the EU, clearly illegal, and we will not accept it." The EU's actions "are an attempt to undermine a government of a country with which it has differences," he added, "we will turn to the European Court."
The EU approved the 19th round of sanctions against Russia at the end of October, including a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas entering the European market. AFP cited diplomatic sources as reporting that Hungary and Slovakia, two EU countries, opposed the ban on importing Russian natural gas.
Hungary is one of the few landlocked countries in the EU, and its energy supply is highly dependent on Russia. Data from the International Monetary Fund shows that in 2024, Hungary imported 74% of its natural gas and 86% of its oil from Russia.
Orbán also said on the 14th that he would seek other "non-legal" ways to continue importing Russian natural gas, but he did not elaborate.
Orbán visited the United States at the beginning of this month and explained to U.S. President Trump the importance of Russian energy for Hungary, seeking exemption from sanctions. Subsequently, U.S. government officials stated that Hungary's purchase of oil and natural gas from Russia would be exempt from U.S. sanctions, with a grace period of one year. However, the Hungarian side claimed that the sanction exemption had "no time limit." Orbán reiterated this on the 14th, stating that it was a "private agreement" between him and Trump, and "as long as Trump is the President of the United States," the exemption would remain valid." (Hui Xiaoshuang)
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