Washington is more understanding than Brussels over Hungary and Slovakia’s imports of Russian gas and oil, EU Affairs Minister János Bóka said in Brussels on Tuesday.
The US has been urging Europe to halt all Russian energy imports before backing further sanctions on Moscow. But unlike the EU, Bóka argued, Washington recognises “the special position of [land-locked] Hungary and Slovakia.”
In June, the European Commission tabled a proposal to completely phase out Russian natural gas imports until the end of 2027. This would finally close the sanctions loophole used by Budapest and Bratislava, ending a multi-year diplomatic stand-off.
The two EU countries continue to import Russian crude oil via a Soviet-era pipeline, relying on an EU sanctions exemption.
He added that Budapest was maintaining “direct contact” with Washington, not “through the press,” on the issue. Americans “are more understanding than our European partners.”
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