"Now Orban is on Putin's side": Hungary wants to pay for Russian gas in rubles

Created: 04/29/2022, 04:54

By: Linus Prien

After Russia confirmed that it would stop supplying gas to Poland and Bulgaria, Hungary announced that it would pay for Russian gas in rubles in the future.

Budapest - Hungary is said to have agreed to pay Russian gas supplies in rubles.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told the US news channel CNN: "We're not doing this for fun, we didn't choose this situation," Szijjártó explained.

He further stated that 85 percent of Hungary's gas supply and 65 percent of Hungary's oil supply came from Russia.

In the coming years there will be no alternatives for the Russian mineral resources for Hungary, said the foreign minister.

Ukraine War: Russia cuts gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria

The Russian Gazprom group has confirmed that it will stop supplying gas to Bulgaria and Poland.

The reason given by Gazprom was that the two EU member states had not made any payments in rubles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last month that Russia would only accept gas payments in its own currency.

Hungary now submits to the Russian demands.

The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reacted to Russia's decision: "The Europeans can trust that we are united and in solidarity with the member states concerned".

As a sanction against Russia in the escalated Ukraine conflict, the EU Commission is aiming for an import ban on Russian gas and oil.

So far, however, there has not been the necessary unanimity among the EU countries.

In addition to Germany and Austria, Hungary has also spoken out against a gas embargo.

Ukraine-Russia-News: Russian gas supply – "Orbán sides with Putin"

Ursula von der Leyen had also warned all member countries not to pay for gas deliveries in rubles, as required by Russia.

"That would be a violation of the EU's sanctions" against Russia, said von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday.

In this case, the companies involved would have to face the consequences.

SPD politician and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Katarina Barley, tweeted about Hungary's decision: "For 12 years, the EU allowed Orbán to destroy democracy and the rule of law in his country.

Now she gets the receipt.

#Orbán sides with Putin.”

Viktor Orbán and Vladimir Putin © Kremlin Pool via www.imago-images.de

War in Ukraine: Russian gas continues to flow through Bulgaria despite a delivery stop

According to the governments in Belgrade and Budapest, the Russian gas destined for Serbia and Hungary has so far been forwarded without any problems despite the stop in deliveries to Bulgaria.

"We are properly purchasing the gas in the agreed quantities via the Balkan Stream pipeline," Serbian Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said on Wednesday.

Peter Szijjarto made a similar statement.

"The delivery of Russian natural gas is proceeding smoothly and as agreed along the route passing through Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia," he told state news agency MTI.