Hungary Refuses to Cut Russian Oil Amid NATO Tensions

Tensions between NATO and Russia have spiked after alleged Russian airspace incursions forced NATO fighter scrambles and led to two Article 4 consultations, with Moscow warning that shooting down its jets would amount to war. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, have framed relations with NATO and the EU as a form of war over Ukraine amid a rise in sabotage and drone incidents across Europe. President Trump has stepped up pressure on allies to cut Russian oil purchases, personally urging Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to reduce imports and threatening tariffs and other measures while accusing India and China of funding Russia by buying its oil. Hungary, led publicly by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and backed by Orbán, rejects calls to stop Russian oil on geographic and infrastructure grounds, noting reliance on the Druzhba pipeline — which delivers roughly 5 million tonnes annually to state energy company MOL — and a lack of terminals and refineries to switch suppliers quickly. The EU is considering trade measures and financial incentives, including proposals to unfreeze funds, to curb Druzhba‑pipeline imports by Hungary and Slovakia. NATO officials warn that U.S. tariff actions may be indirectly shaping Moscow’s options and have prompted contacts between leaders such as India’s Narendra Modi and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.