Hungary Plans to End Russian Gas Imports by October 2027, Minister Says

Hungary intends to phase out its imports of Russian natural gas by October 2027, according to comments attributed to the country’s Minister of Economy and Energy, Istvan Kapitany, reported by Russian state news agency TASS.

Kapitany was cited as saying that Hungary’s gas needs can and will be met from sources other than Russia, though the report did not specify which alternative suppliers or infrastructure would be used to replace current volumes.

TASS did not provide additional detail on the timeline, the current volume of Russian gas imported by Hungary, or any accompanying statements from other Hungarian officials in the report.

Hungary has historically maintained close energy ties with Russia, differing from many other European Union member states that have sought to reduce reliance on Russian energy following the escalation of the war in Ukraine. The TASS report did not elaborate on how the announced plan aligns with, or diverges from, broader EU energy policy.

Further details on the specific steps Hungary intends to take to achieve the 2027 target, including potential new supply agreements or infrastructure investments, were not included in the available report.