Criticism of sanctions

Viktor Orbán lobbies for “cheap” Russian gas

Orbán is now quite isolated at EU level.

(Bild: AFP/Attila KISBENEDEK)

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has once again positioned himself as a critic of the EU. He is calling for a review of sanctions against the Kremlin in order to drive down electricity and gas prices in Europe.

Energy prices must be lowered at all costs in order to ensure the competitiveness of European companies, Orban said on Hungarian radio on Friday. "This means that the sanctions must be reconsidered, because energy prices will not fall under the current sanctions policy."

US companies pay only a quarter of what their European competitors pay for gas and electricity, Orbán said. This was a disadvantage that could not be compensated for in any other way.

Orbán accused of being close to Putin
The national conservative Orbán has been criticized in the EU for his closeness to Russia. His uncoordinated visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the EU Council on July 1 caused outrage in Europe.

Orbán has repeatedly emerged as a vocal critic of sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine. Many EU countries began to free themselves from years of dependence on Russian energy imports at the start of the war in Ukraine. Hungary, on the other hand, still receives around 80 percent of its gas and oil supplies from Russia.