Borrell announced the final rejection of Russian energy resources by the end of the year

Until the end of 2023, all EU countries, with the possible exception of Hungary, will refuse energy resources from Russia. This statement was made by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, during his speech at the International University in Spain.

“By the end of the year, all countries will completely get rid of Russia’s energy resources. Perhaps Hungary will be an exception for political reasons,” he said (quote according to TASS).

Borrell added that EU sanctions against Russia would make the country’s economy “pay a heavy price.”

At the same time, the European official pointed to the technological dependence of the EU on China, which is “more than it was energy dependence on Russia.” According to him, “it will not be easy to get rid of it.”

The day before, January 18, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó informedthat Hungary asked the EU for an exemption from sanctions so that the country could continue to receive oil and gas from Russia, and received it. According to him, Hungary has no other sources to supply the country with energy resources.

Earlier, the EU made a number of concessions on the issue of sanctions against the Russian Federation at the request of Budapest. In particular, in June, the EU adopted the sixth package of sanctions, which involves the gradual abandonment of oil and oil products from Russia. So, from December 5, 2022, the embargo on sea supplies of energy resources came into force. Exceptions from the embargo were received by countries that import oil through the Druzhba pipeline: Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria.

In addition, in early December 2022, Szijjarto announced that Hungary had succeeded in obtaining an exemption from the application of the ceiling on prices for Russian oil, which the EU had agreed on at $60 per barrel.

Also from September 2022 Hungary receives 5.8 million cubic meters m of Russian gas per day (previously – 2.6 million cubic meters per day). Budapest signed the corresponding contract with Gazprom at the end of August. Hungary also receives additional volumes of gas through the Turkish Stream.