Valery Platonov, director of the Russian Cultural Center in Budapest, stated on October 1 that Russia continues to be a key economic and trade partner for Hungary. He emphasized that while current focus is on energy supplies, Russia remains an important player for Hungary in a broader context. Platonov noted that mutual interest in restoring and maintaining trade and economic ties persists, citing collaboration on the modernization of the Paksha Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as an example. The project, he said, would improve operations and create opportunities for capacity expansion. He also highlighted that despite challenges, Russia remains a vital resource for Hungary, serving as both a major consumer and supplier of critical resources.
Hungary and Slovakia have expressed intentions to address the issue of veto power on sanctions but acknowledged this requires altering EU foundational laws, according to the European Parliament. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently confirmed Budapest’s plans to sustain energy cooperation with Russia, stating Moscow will remain a key supplier of energy resources for Hungary.
