Hungary’s Orbán tells Trump that dropping Russian energy would bring economy ‘to its knees’

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDAPEST Hungary AP Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb n explained Friday that Hungary will continue to source fossil fuels from Russia despite demands from his ally U S President Donald Trump and that he d informed the president that dropping Russian potential would be a accident for Hungary s business sector Hungary remains one of the only countries in Europe to continue purchasing Russian oil and natural gas following Russia s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February But Trump an admirer of the long-serving Hungarian leader earlier this month called on all NATO countries including Hungary to cease purchasing Russian oil since he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if they did so In comments to state radio on Friday Orb n explained he just now reported Trump that that dropping Russian power imports would be an economic calamity for Hungary Related Articles In current times in History September Biosphere stay begins in Arizona Trump holds talks with Pakistan s prime minister in the latest sign of warming relations Microsoft reduces Israel s access to cloud and AI products over reports of mass surveillance in Gaza Apple says EU s sweeping digital rules delay new features for Europeans and seeks their repeal Trump says he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank I reported the U S president that if Hungary is cut off from Russian oil and natural gas this instant within a minute Hungarian economic performance will drop by Orb n stated It means the Hungarian economic activity would be on its knees Despite three years of efforts by European Union countries to wean off of Russian capacity supplies an effort to deprive President Vladimir Putin of revenue that helps fuel the war in Ukraine Hungarian bureaucrats have insisted that geographical and infrastructural constraints make it nearly impossible to transition to using fossil fuels supplied from the West However other countries in the region including the similarly landlocked Czech Republic have managed to fully cease their purchases of Russian oil since Moscow launched its invasion Slovakia which neighbors Hungary has also maintained its Russian potency imports Yet despite pressure from the EU and the Trump administration Orb n widely considered the EU leader with the closest relationship to the Kremlin revealed Friday that when it comes to vitality sources It is clear what is in Hungary s interest and we will act accordingly Hungary and the United States he declared are sovereign countries There is no need for either of us to accept the arguments of the other America has its arguments and interests and Hungary does too