US steps up pressure on Hungary over Russian oil imports

The US urges Hungary to abandon Russian oil

The United States is stepping up diplomatic pressure on Hungary, demanding that it stop Imports of Russian oil, reports Bloomberg.

Senior US official, Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, said that Budapest's arguments about «geographical dependence» were unfounded.

«Our friends in Hungary have a lot to plan, and we, as good allies, will help them implement these plans to get rid of their dependence on Russian oil and gas,» Vitaker said on the air. Fox News.

Hungary's arguments

The Hungarian authorities continue to claim that due to lack of access to the sea The country has no real alternative to Russian oil.
Premier Viktor Orban has repeatedly rejected the idea of active use an alternative oil pipeline through Croatia, citing high costs and technical difficulties.

Croatia assures that its The oil pipeline infrastructure is capable of providing both Hungary and Slovakia.
Currently MOL and Janaf companies are negotiating a new supply contract.

Washington's position

Ambassador Whitaker stressed that the United States «will continue to work with the Hungarian side» and with neighbouring countries Croatia and Slovakia to Reduce the region's dependence on Russian energy resources.

«Unlike many of its neighbours, Hungary has not taken any steps towards energy diversification. This creates risks both for the country itself and for the whole of Europe,» the diplomat said.

Context.

Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most EU countries are actively reducing their imports of Russian energy.
At the same time, Budapest maintains almost complete dependence from Moscow, which is increasingly causing Discontent among NATO allies.