Russian Duma Deputy Warns Hungary of Energy Supply Disruption After Budapest Labels Moscow a Security Threat

Published on 27/08/2026 – 15:08 GMT+2

In April, Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party defeated Viktor Orbán’s nationalist government. Magyar has since pledged a foreign‑policy reset, aiming to strengthen ties with the EU and NATO and distance himself from the close relationship his predecessor maintained with the Kremlin.

A document released on Wednesday outlining Hungary’s stance ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly stated that the country condemns Russian military aggression, fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urges negotiations for a sustainable peace with security guarantees.

The document warned that Russia’s actions threaten Hungary, Europe, and the global order, as well as the Hungarian minority residing in Transcarpathia.

Moscow has not yet responded officially. Nevertheless, Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma’s Defence Committee, warned that Russia might cut off oil and gas supplies to Hungary following Budapest’s designation of Moscow as a threat.

He [Magyar] has been instructed to adopt a hostile stance toward Russia, seeking to gain an advantage. I believe Hungary’s oil and energy supplies from Russia are now in doubt after such statements, Kolesnik told the Russian newspaper Gazeta.ru.

He added that Hungary had yielded to European Union pressure to adopt anti‑Russian policies.

Kolesnik, who did not name Magyar directly, is a member of Vladimir Putin’s ruling party and regularly echoes Kremlin messaging.

Hungary remains one of the few EU states still importing large volumes of Russian oil and natural gas through a Soviet‑era pipeline network. Together with Slovakia, Budapest obtained an exemption from the 2022 EU sanctions that banned pipeline oil imports from Russia.

Orbán had long been viewed as Vladimir Putin’s closest partner within the European Union, repeatedly obstructing EU statements and sanctions against Russia. He argued that Russia presented no threat to Hungary, given NATO’s overwhelming military strength and Hungary’s own membership in the alliance.

Last year, Russian secret services issued a rare written statement criticizing Magyar, labeling him a tool of the EU and echoing narratives promoted by Orbán’s Fidesz party.

Since the change of government in Budapest, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has said it is ready to pursue pragmatic relations with the new Hungarian administration.

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