The United States Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, expressed Washington’s concern over Hungary’s lack of real steps to reduce its dependence on Russian energy resources. In particular, he emphasized that Hungary has not yet developed plans or implemented measures to reduce its import of oil and gas from Russia.
This is reported by Finway
US Position on Hungary’s Energy Policy
In his remarks on Fox News, Whitaker highlighted that Washington expects concrete actions from Budapest aimed at decreasing energy dependence on the Russian Federation. He noted that other European countries have already taken appropriate measures, while Hungary remains on the sidelines of these processes.
“Therefore, we will continue to work with them, as well as with their neighbors, such as Croatia and other countries that can help them move away from Russian energy sources,” Whitaker emphasized.
According to him, the US is ready to provide the necessary support to Budapest for a gradual phase-out of Russian oil and gas. Washington expects similar actions from other countries in the region, including Slovakia and Turkey.
Impact of Sanctions and Response from Hungarian Authorities
The sanctions imposed by the US under President Trump’s leadership against Russian oil companies have already negatively impacted Hungary’s economy. As of October 2025, the country imports 92% of its crude oil from Russia, which is significantly higher compared to 61% before the start of the full-scale war.
Despite international pressure, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that his government is “working on how to circumvent the sanctions,” although the details of such a strategy remain unknown. Experts emphasize that Hungary’s attempts to evade sanctions could pose a serious challenge for the Trump administration. The US response to these actions will demonstrate how resolutely Washington is prepared to act regarding Russia’s allies in Europe.