"Russia is ready to continue pragmatic cooperation with Hungary"

Russian representatives have already started a dialogue with some members of the new Hungarian government, and this communication was "businesslike and encouraging," Russian Ambassador to Budapest Yevgeny Stanislavov told Izvestia. According to him, Moscow is ready to continue pragmatic cooperation. At the same time, the future of energy cooperation will depend on whether Budapest succeeds in maintaining exemptions from EU sanctions, protecting the Druzhba oil pipeline, and achieving changes in EU gas regulations. About the prospects of Russian-Hungarian relations and the Paks-2 project in an exclusive interview with Evgeny Stanislavov to Izvestia.

"The first acquaintances were businesslike and encouraging"

— Recently, power changed in Hungary — Viktor Orban, who continuously led the country for 16 years, left, and his former party member Peter Magyar came. Has the Russian side already managed to establish working contacts with him?

— Members of the new Hungarian government, as you know, officially took office on May 13. The few working days that have passed since then are a short time to talk about maintaining working contacts, especially in some specific areas of cooperation. Even new deputy ministers have not yet been appointed in most departments.

But the first meetings with a number of newly appointed cabinet members had already taken place at the inaugural session of the State Assembly and were businesslike and encouraging. In the near future, we expect to start contacts with relevant Hungarian authorities, with whom we have specific topics for conversation.

"The new authorities have no intention of undermining their own competitiveness"

— Is Russia ready to cooperate with Hungary in the field of energy?

— Russian energy companies are the main suppliers of resources to Hungary and have long—term contractual obligations in this regard. Over the decades of working together, they have established themselves as reliable partners with whom it is beneficial to do business. Our country is ready to continue such pragmatic cooperation with Hungary based on mutual respect and taking into account each other's interests, but unfortunately, not everything depends on us.

— What could be the main obstacle?

— The European Union, as you know, has adopted a number of restrictive measures, which, in relation to Hungary, will mean a ban on pipeline gas supplies from Russia from January 1, 2028. Brussels has similar plans for Russian oil, which is supplied to Hungary via the Druzhba oil pipeline. If we talk about current supplies, the exemption from the EU sanctions regimes received by Hungary in 2022 is still in effect. But the pipeline was recently blocked by Kiev for two months under far-fetched pretexts. And the European Commission, which had previously guaranteed its assistance in resolving such issues, did not even lift a finger to exert any influence on the Ukrainian authorities.

As a result, fuel reserves in Hungary have noticeably decreased and the market as a whole is experiencing a difficult situation: there are talks about the possible closure of a number of independent gas stations, and there is a shortage of petroleum products in neighboring countries, including due to the situation in the Persian Gulf. In such a situation, the new government will have to make decisions about the prospects of cooperation with our country in this area.

— What position have the new authorities taken regarding cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of energy?

— The policy documents of the Tisa party that came to power set a goal to diversify the sources and routes of the country's energy supply while gradually reducing imports of Russian oil and gas by 2035.

According to the new Minister of Economy and Energy of Hungary, Istvan Kapitan, the increase in the share of Russian oil in the Hungarian market in recent years is an "unfortunate decision." At the same time, it is recognized that cooperation with our country is necessary, since, according to the new Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, "it is impossible to change the geography." In addition, it is stated that the new authorities have no intention of undermining their own competitiveness and "shooting themselves in the foot."

Pipe time: when will oil pumping from Russia via Druzhba resume

And why did Kiev's statements about the resumption of transit of Russian raw materials to Hungary and Slovakia coincide with the change of power in Budapest and the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions

Thus, much will depend on how effectively the new Hungarian government manages to maintain the existing exemptions [from sanctions] for oil supplies from Russia, deter the Kiev regime from further attempts to blackmail and block the Druzhba oil pipeline, and on whether Hungary and Slovakia can achieve changes in gas supplies. relevant EU regulations. As is known, a lawsuit in this regard was filed by these two countries in the EU Court in January this year.

And of course, issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of oil and gas require timely discussion and elaboration between our countries, to which Russia has always been open.

"Rosatom representatives are ready to start consultations immediately"

— The new Hungarian government has announced its intention to conduct an audit of the Paks-2 project. Could he touch on Russia's role in the construction of nuclear power plants?

— In general, the new Hungarian government is committed to the development of nuclear energy. The completion of the procedures necessary for the next extension of the operational life of the existing four units of the Paks NPP has been announced as one of its priorities. As for the Paks-2 NPP under construction, the new Hungarian authorities would like to carefully review the contract, financial documents and work carried out at the construction site and, based on the results of this audit, decide on further steps.

— What has changed in the construction of Paks-2 after the formation of the new Cabinet of Ministers?

— Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Foreign Affairs dealt with the construction of the Paks-2 NPP. In the new cabinet, these functions have been transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Energy, and the implementation of the Paks-2 project has been designated as a separate item of the newly appointed minister's official duties. It is clear that the new supervisors will need some time to get up to speed on this very complex project.

The Russian side is ready to provide all necessary assistance to the Hungarian partners in this regard in order to complete the inventory of the project as soon as possible and continue its implementation in accordance with the planned plans. Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom State Corporation, recently stated his readiness to substantiate all technical, economic and financial parameters of the project. We really hope that such a professional dialogue will begin in the near future. I repeat, Rosatom representatives are ready to start such consultations immediately.