Bloomberg: US senators urge Hungary to end reliance on Russian energy

A bipartisan group of US senators is calling on Hungary to stop purchasing Russian energy as Prime Minister Viktor Orban prepares to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on November 7.

In a resolution obtained by Bloomberg News, the lawmakers expressed concern that Hungary has shown “no sign of reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels,” and urged Orban and other European consumers of Russian energy to follow a European Union proposal made in June to end imports by 2027.

The resolution was co-signed by 10 senators, including Republicans Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, along with Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Chris Coons of Delaware.

Orban, who has long been admired by some American conservatives, is expected to use his close relationship with Trump to maintain Hungary’s access to Russian oil, even as most European countries have reduced energy ties with Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Vladimir Putin is a war criminal who uses Russia’s energy exports to fund his campaign of murder and aggression,” Tillis said in a statement. “This resolution sends a clear message that we will not allow energy dependence to become a weapon in the hands of a brutal dictator.”

“Europe has made extraordinary progress cutting its energy ties with Moscow, but Hungary’s actions continue to undermine collective security and embolden the Kremlin,” Shaheen said.

Last month, the US Treasury Department blacklisted Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC, following Trump’s failed attempts to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire.

While congressional Republicans have largely deferred to the White House on energy policy toward Russia, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to sanction countries that continue buying Russian energy enjoys broad support in the Senate. The measure, however, remains on hold until Trump authorizes it to move forward.

By Sabina Mammadli