Latest news with #Szijjarto
United News of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto accuses Ukraine of undermining Central Europe's energy security by blocking gas transits
Budapest, July 24 (UNI) Taking a jab at Ukraine once again, Hungarian Foreign Minster Peter Szijjarto has accused the country of undermining the energy security of Central Europe, through its recent actions which include the blockage of gas transits from its territory, threatening energy supplies throughout the region. In an interview with Russian state media TASS, Szijjarto said 'The TurkStream pipeline is working on full capacity not without a good reason. We have a long- term contract, plus we buy on spot basis, plus Slovakia buys its gas now through Hungary because Ukraine was 'kind enough' to lock down transit through its own territory, endangering the energy safety of supplies in the Central European region.' Stating that Kyiv's calls for solidarity with Europe are made more questionable by such actions, he added 'So when we speak about solidarity, I'm not quite sure that we understand the same definition under that on both sides of the border.' Hungary has long been opposed to Ukraine's bid for joining the EU, stating that Budapest will not allow itself to be dragged into a war with Russia by allowing Kyiv to join the bloc. It has also been one of the few countries which has refused to supply any military equipment to Ukraine, or cut its ties with Moscow. Rather, it has become even closer to Russia, as Budapest is joining the country in construction of new gas pipelines, much to the opposition of Brussels which is seeking to cut its reliance on Russian energy. Slovakia has insisted on maintaining the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, whose authorities stopped supplies at the beginning of this year. As such, Bratislava currently receives energy raw materials from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline, though their volume is less than half of the republic's gas imports. UNI ANV
United News of India
5 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
Hungary announces construction of oil pipeline with Russia and Serbia
Budapest, July 22 (UNI) In a move that could potentially upset the ties between Hungary and the EU, Budapest has announced progress on a new pipeline with Serbia to transport Russian oil. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, taking to X wrote 'We're moving forward with Serbian and Russian partners to build a new oil pipeline between Hungary and Serbia. 'While Brussels is banning Russian energy, cutting links and blocking routes, we need more sources, more routes. Hungary won't fall victim to these disastrous decisions.' Szijjarto made the announcement yesterday after meeting with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin and Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Dedovic-Handanovic. Szijjarto said all sides support the project, which could be operational by 2027, and have reviewed investment and construction details, reports RT News. He further accused Brussels of seeking 'to cut us off from Russian oil and gas, forcing Hungarian families to pay two to four times more.' 'We won't allow that. We are building new sources, not shutting them down.' While the Hungarian FM did not disclose Moscow's exact role in the venture, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last month that the country was ready to both aid in construction and supply oil to the planned pipeline. Hungary's relationship with the European bloc has been stormy, as the country refused to cut ties with Russia following its war Ukraine, and has further denounced the EU's move to cut away its dependence on Moscow's oil and gas supplies by 2028 under its RePower EU Plan, calling the move illogical and detrimental Budapest's energy security. UNI ANV SSP
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BYD to invest $94 million to triple electric bus output in Hungary
BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Chinese automaker BYD will invest 32 billion forints ($94 million) in a new plant in the northern Hungarian town of Komarom, tripling its annual capacity to 1,250 electric buses and trucks, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. Under right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has become an important trade and investment partner for China, in contrast with some other European Union nations considering becoming less dependent on the world's second-largest economy. "We Hungarians do not consider East-West cooperation a threat, but rather an opportunity, a big opportunity," Szijjarto was quoted as saying on Friday, adding that the government would support the project with a 3.1 billion forint grant. Orban, who has spearheaded a drive in central Europe to bring Chinese EV and battery manufacturing plants to Hungary, has said his landlocked country did not want to be squeezed into either bloc and wanted to keep trading with both sides. BYD, which is also building an electric car factory in southern Hungary and expects to establish a European centre in the country, will establish a research and development laboratory alongside its latest investment in an apparent reward for Hungary's condemnation of European tariffs on Chinese EVs. Orban started bringing his country closer to Beijing after he came to power in 2010. Warm political relations turned into investments about a decade later when battery and EV makers started to bring production to Hungary. Szijjarto said Hungary had received nearly a third of Chinese inward investment into Europe last year, lifting the total volume of Chinese investments to 5.5 trillion forints ($16 billion), representing 64 large projects. ($1 = 340.08 forints)
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BYD to invest $94 million to triple electric bus output in Hungary
BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Chinese automaker BYD will invest 32 billion forints ($94 million) in a new plant in the northern Hungarian town of Komarom, tripling its annual capacity to 1,250 electric buses and trucks, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. Under right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has become an important trade and investment partner for China, in contrast with some other European Union nations considering becoming less dependent on the world's second-largest economy. "We Hungarians do not consider East-West cooperation a threat, but rather an opportunity, a big opportunity," Szijjarto was quoted as saying on Friday, adding that the government would support the project with a 3.1 billion forint grant. Orban, who has spearheaded a drive in central Europe to bring Chinese EV and battery manufacturing plants to Hungary, has said his landlocked country did not want to be squeezed into either bloc and wanted to keep trading with both sides. BYD, which is also building an electric car factory in southern Hungary and expects to establish a European centre in the country, will establish a research and development laboratory alongside its latest investment in an apparent reward for Hungary's condemnation of European tariffs on Chinese EVs. Orban started bringing his country closer to Beijing after he came to power in 2010. Warm political relations turned into investments about a decade later when battery and EV makers started to bring production to Hungary. Szijjarto said Hungary had received nearly a third of Chinese inward investment into Europe last year, lifting the total volume of Chinese investments to 5.5 trillion forints ($16 billion), representing 64 large projects. ($1 = 340.08 forints)
Russia Today
20-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU nation to keep Russian oil and gas flowing
Hungary has received assurances from Russia that deliveries of oil and gas under long-term contracts will continue despite efforts by the EU and Ukraine to disrupt them, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025). Hungary has opposed EU sanctions on Russian energy since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, saying the imports are vital to national interests. The country has a long-term contract with Gazprom and receives the bulk of its oil and gas from Russia. Gas is mainly delivered via the Turkish Stream pipeline through Bulgaria and Serbia. Budapest is also working with Russia's Rosatom to expand the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. The foreign minister was commenting on a proposal by the European Commission that would ban imports of Russian gas, including LNG, to the EU starting January 1, 2026. For landlocked countries such as Hungary, the cutoff would apply from early 2028. According to Szijjarto, the heads of Russia's largest energy firms have signaled that they are ready to continue supplying Hungary with low-cost natural gas and crude oil despite challenges and restrictions. 'Agreed with Russian officials & energy company leaders to maintain our cooperation, despite efforts by Brussels & [Kiev] to undermine it,' Szijjarto wrote on X. He made the statement after meetings with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak, Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller, and Rosatom Director General Aleksey Likhachyov. Szijjarto said oil deliveries are ongoing, gas flows continue through the TurkStream pipeline, and the expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant – known as Paks II – is progressing. 'We won't let Brussels force [Hungarian] families to pay 2-4x more for energy,' he added. His remarks come as the European Commission has proposed ending all remaining Russian gas imports to the EU by the end of 2027. Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen presented the plan on Tuesday, following approval from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It includes a ban on new Russian gas contracts starting in 2026 and a full phaseout the following year. The proposal faces opposition from Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and reportedly from Italy. It is expected to be introduced as trade legislation, which would not require unanimous approval from all EU member states. Szijjarto has called the plan 'absolute insanity,' warning it could cause fuel price hikes and undermine national sovereignty. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has vowed to block the move.
