Hungary’s FM urges EU to lift Russian oil ban amid Strait of Hormuz threat

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó warned on X that the European Union should immediately lift the ban on Russian oil and gas imports in light of escalating Middle East tensions and the threat of the Strait of Hormuz closing.

Europe is particularly vulnerable, having already reduced reliance on Russian energy, while Middle East tensions further tighten global supplies, potentially causing a sharp rise in energy prices, according to Szijjártó.

The EU should immediately lift its ban on Russian oil and gas imports. With the war in the Middle East escalating and the Strait of Hormuz closed, a major share of global energy supply is now at risk.

Europe is especially exposed because the EU had already banned Russian energy…

— Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) March 9, 2026

“If Brussels keeps the sanctions in place, it will cause serious harm to European people and the European economy. The focus should be on protecting the interests of Europeans, not ideology,” he concluded.

By Jeyhun Aghazada