The European Union is demanding that Hungary give up purchases of natural gas from Russia by the autumn of 2027. This was stated by Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban.
“The European Union has set a clear deadline for giving up Russian natural gas: the autumn of 2027,” she said, answering the question as to whether the Hungarian government hopes to maintain access to Russian natural gas.
On September 18, Hungarian Minister of Economy and Energy Ishtvan Kapitan had stated that the country’s new government would be ready to give up the use of Russian gas by October 2027. He had stated that negotiations on that subject were under way with neighboring countries and with companies that supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the market. According to him, the necessary infrastructure for that is in place.
In 2025 the European Commission drafted and submitted to the EU Council for approval an open-ended ban on Russian gas supplies, which partially entered into force in 2026. From the start of 2027 the conclusion of any new contract for the purchase of Russian LNG will be prohibited. The final deliveries envisaged under those contracts must be made by December 31, 2027.
