Report: Hungary using more Russian oil, despite EU phase out

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · Mar 23, 2026 · 997 words · By Arthur Sullivan

EU sanctions and exemptions Russian energy dependence

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What to know about EU sanctions and exemptions

A report by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) details Hungary's increased reliance on Russian oil and gas despite EU sanctions, citing legal exemptions, long-term contracts, and commercial incentives. The article notes Hungary's opposition to ending exemptions and links energy dependence to political and economic factors, including upcoming elections.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 20

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Report: Hungary using more Russian oil, despite EU phase out March 23, 2026Hungary has dramatically increased its dependence on Russian crude oil since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago, despite EU efforts to limit the import of…

Why it matters

A new report from the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), a European public policy institute, states that in 2025, Russian crude accounted for as much as 93% of Hungary's oil imports, up from a 61% share in 2021.

Common ground

The report has been shared exclusively with DW.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Whataboutism: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this EU sanctions and exemptions story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Loopholes in the EU's Russian gas phaseout plan mean the fuel will still be imported into the bloc after the late-2027 deadline?
How does this story connect EU sanctions and exemptions with Russian energy dependence over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/report-hungary-using-more-russian-oil-despite-eu-phase-out…

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 80%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Whataboutism 90% confidence

Deflecting criticism by pointing to a different issue.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing whataboutism helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 20 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 10

help Insufficient Evidence 6

verified Verified By Reference 2

check_circle Corroborated 2

verified

Claim 1: “Loopholes in the EU's Russian gas phaseout plan mean the fuel will still be imported into the bloc after the late-2027 deadline.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia mentions the 2027 deadline for Russian gas phaseout, there is no specific evidence about loopholes allowing post-deadline imports.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia–European Union relations are the international relations between the European Union (EU) and Russia. Russia borders five EU member states: Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland; the Ru…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia–European_Union_relation…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Expo 2027 (Serbian: ЕКСПО 2027, romanized: EKSPO 2027) is the working title for a BIE-recognised specialised exposition to be held in 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia. It is scheduled to begin on 15 May 2027 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2027_(Belgrade,_Serbia)

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia supplies a significant volume of fossil fuels to other European countries. In 2021, it was the largest exporter of oil and natural gas to the European Union, (90%) and 40% of gas consumed in th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_in_the_European_energy_…

schedule

Claim 2: “Hungary's increased dependence on discounted Russian crude is paying off for MOL but not for the average Hungarian or Slovakian citizen.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 3: “Hungary's reliance on Russian oil, gas and nuclear fuel is a structurally reinforced system sustained by legal exemptions, long-term contracts, commercial incentives, and politically embedded business networks.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No sources were found that directly address the structural mechanisms sustaining Hungary's energy reliance on Russia.

schedule

Claim 4: “The Druzhba pipeline has not been operational since late January.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 5: “Hungary has dramatically increased its dependence on Russian crude oil since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago, despite EU efforts to limit the import of Russian fossil fuels into the bloc.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (AP News, Center for the Study of Democracy report, and Hungarian energy analysis) confirm Hungary's increased reliance on Russian crude oil since 2022 despite EU restrictions.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 24 February 2022, during the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting the current phase of the war, the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. By Apri…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukrai…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hungary–Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Hungary and Russia. Hungary has an embassy in Moscow and two consulate-generals (in Saint Petersburg and Yekater…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary–Russia_relations

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 6: “Pre-tax fuel prices in Hungary and Slovakia remain higher than in Czechia.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 7: “Hungary and Slovakia remain opposed to the ending of the exemptions and want to continue importing Russian fossil fuels.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 8: “Hungarian state oil monopoly MOL has financially benefited from continued access to discounted Russian crude, with earnings rising 15% in 2025 to around €1.3 billion.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “Hungary used its veto to block a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, with Orban stating Hungary could not support the proposal until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline resumed.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “Hungary's ramping up of Russian oil imports takes advantage of exemptions and the heavily discounted price of Russian oil on global markets.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “The US has also given Hungary exemptions from its sanctions on Russian energy.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No credible sources were found to support or refute claims about U.S. sanctions exemptions for Hungary.

help

Claim 12: “Hungary and Slovakia have benefited from exemptions to the EU's general ban on Russian oil imports.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No sources were found confirming exemptions for Hungary and Slovakia from the EU's Russian oil ban.

verified

Claim 13: “In 2025, Russian crude accounted for as much as 93% of Hungary's oil imports, up from a 61% share in 2021.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The Center for the Study of Democracy report directly states Russian crude accounted for 93% of Hungary's oil imports in 2025, up from 61% in 2021, corroborated by other web sources tracking the same data.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Budapest summit (also known as the 2025 Russia–United States summit in Budapest or the Trump–Putin summit in Budapest) was a proposed summit between United States president Donald Trump and R…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Russia–United_States_summ…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hungary's reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine have been incongruous with the attitudes of NATO and European Union member states since the beginning of the war. Hungary, a member of the Europe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary_and_the_Russian_invasi…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 14: “Loopholes in the EU gas phaseout plan will allow Russian gas to continue to enter European markets through Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Western Balkans.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 15: “The EU wants to end Russian LNG imports into the bloc by December 31, 2026, and pipeline gas by September 30, 2027.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No sources were found confirming the EU's specific deadlines for ending Russian LNG and pipeline gas imports.

check_circle

Claim 16: “Budapest's deepening reliance on Russian gas and nuclear energy.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Hungary's continued reliance on Russian gas (15-year supply deal) and nuclear energy (MOL's nuclear projects), despite EU diversification efforts.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — HungaryhasmaintaineditsrelianceonRussianenergysince the start of the conflict in Ukraine, prompting criticism from several European Union and NATO allies.Hungarysigned a 15-year deal in 2021 withRussi…
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/turkey-guarante…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — For years, outgoing OrbánhassteeredHungaryalong a distinct path within the EU, maintaining strongenergylinks with Moscow even as much of the blochasworked to cut dependenceonRussianoil andgasfollowing…
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/13/can-peter-magy…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — HungaryhasdramaticallyincreaseditsdependenceonRussiancrude oil since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago, despite EU efforts to limit the import ofRussianfossil fuels into the …
https://www.dw.com/en/hungarys-russian-oil-reliance-tests-eu…

schedule

Claim 17: “Hungary's long-term contracts with Gazprom and reliance on Turkstream pipeline mean it has become extremely dependent on Russian gas.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 18: “Hungary is described as 'the most significant remaining stronghold of Russian energy dependence' in Europe.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No credible sources were found to support or refute the claim about Hungary being 'the most significant remaining stronghold' of Russian energy dependence.

help

Claim 19: “The EU plans to end the exemptions in preparation for the full phaseout of Russian oil and gas, as set out in its REPowerEU Roadmap.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No sources were found confirming the EU's plans to end exemptions as part of the REPowerEU Roadmap.

schedule

Claim 20: “The EU will import an estimated €13.4 billion of Russian gas before the September 2027 deadline.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.