BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Hungary will challenge the European Union鈥檚 plan to end Russian energy imports and take the case to an EU court, Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n said Friday.
Speaking on state radio, Orb谩n accused the bloc of trying to sidestep his veto power over sanctions on Russian energy by using trade rules instead in its plan to phase out all imports of Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
鈥淲e are turning to the European Court of Justice in this matter,鈥� Orb谩n said Friday. 鈥淭his is a flagrant violation of European law, the rule of law and European cooperation … They will pay a very high price for this.鈥�
Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian fossil fuels and has sought exemptions and threatened to veto EU sanctions since Moscow鈥檚 2022 invasion of Ukraine. During a visit to Washington last week, Orb谩n on two Russian energy companies following a White House meeting with President Donald Trump.
Numerous U.S. officials have said the waiver, which ensures Russian oil and gas will continue to flow to Hungary, will last one year, though Orb谩n has insisted it is indefinite. On Friday, Orb谩n credited his close personal relationship with Trump for receiving the exemption, and said it would remain in place as long as both he and the president remain in office.
Orb谩n has called continued access to Russian energy and warned cutting it off would result in an economic collapse, though some critics .
The Hungarian leader on Friday said he was 鈥渁lso exploring other means of a non-legal nature鈥� to avoid falling under the EU’s planned Russian energy phase-out, but declined to say what they were.
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