Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has openly opposed the European Union's line on energy, declaring that Europe cannot cope with the energy crisis without low-cost Russian oil.
His statement comes at a time when Brussels is discussing the possibility of restoring energy saving measures adopted in 2022, which foresee EU countries reducing gas consumption by 15% compared to the average of the last five years.
The European Commission emphasizes that these are emergency measures that could be activated in the event of a new energy crisis, especially if the war in the Persian Gulf continues and oil and gas prices rise sharply. In the most pessimistic scenarios, oil could reach up to $200 per barrel, while gas could break recent records.
Meanwhile, Orbán has openly criticized sanctions against Russia and declared that Europe cannot solve the energy crisis by cutting off Russian supplies. “It is time to reject Ukrainian blackmail,” he said, warning that Hungary will continue to defend its energy interests.
In this climate of tension, EU and G7 Energy Ministers will hold an urgent meeting to discuss the situation, as the energy crisis is once again becoming one of the biggest challenges for Europe.
