Hungary to phase out Russian gas by autumn 2027

The European Union requires Hungary to stop purchasing natural gas from Russia by autumn 2027, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said in an interview with the online publication Telex.

“The European Union has set a clear deadline for phasing out Russian natural gas: autumn 2027,” she said when asked whether the Hungarian government hoped to retain access to Russian natural gas.

On 18 September, Hungary’s Minister of Economy and Energy, Istvan Kapitany, said the country’s new government would be ready to stop using Russian gas by October 2027. He said talks on the matter were under way with neighbouring countries and companies supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the market. According to him, the necessary infrastructure is in place.

In 2025, the European Commission drew up an indefinite ban on Russian gas supplies and submitted it to the Council of the EU for approval. The ban partially came into force in 2026. From the beginning of 2027, the signing of any new contracts to purchase Russian LNG will be prohibited. The final deliveries under those contracts must be made by 31 December 2027.