Zoltán Kovács to CNN: No safe physical alternative for Russian oil shipments

“There is no safe physical alternative for Russian oil shipments, not only up until the end of this year but in the foreseeable future as well,” announced Zoltán Kovács, Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations of Hungary, on Tuesday in his interview with CNN.

Kovács Zoltán (Fotó: MTI/Illyés Tibor) Fotó: MTI/Illyés Tibor

The State Secretary also explained that the Hungarian government has done the most in the past 12 years to lessen energy dependence; dependence on Russian oil was reduced from 95 percent to 84 percent.

In regard to the compromise solution reached at the EU summit, he stated that it will cost Hungary a lot, but they are ready for this. As he said, the sanctions in the agreement do not impact Russian oil coming through pipelines, however, efforts are underway to ensure energy security in landlocked countries.

In response to criticisms of overly-friendly relations between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zoltán Kovács stated that this was purely a narrative that has been imposed on Hungary.

He added that Hungary’s economic and political relations with Russia before the Ukraine conflict, pale in comparison to Western Europe’s.

“Thus, there is no need to point fingers at Hungary as these disputes over the introduction of sanctions and punitive measures go on,”

– said the State Secretary, adding that even before the war in Ukraine, Hungary was clear about its position on energy.

Photo: Zoltán Kovács (Fotó: MTI/Tibor Illyés)