Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia have paid Moscow €5.4 billion for crude oil alone—enough to fund 1,800 Iskander-M missiles—highlighting their continued reliance on Russian energy despite EU sanctions and alternatives.

Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil has climbed from 61% before the war to 86% in 2024, while Slovakia remains almost fully dependent on Russian supplies.

Both countries have voiced “serious concerns” about the European Union’s plan to phase out Russian energy, citing logistical challenges and rising costs as major barriers.

However, experts assure that Hungary and Slovakia’s energy security is not at risk. Hungary’s energy company MOL can process crude oil from various sources, and the region can access non-Russian oil through Croatia via the Adria pipeline.

Additionally, the Central European gas market is well supplied with gas from the US and Qatar.Despite these options, “Budapest and Bratislava show little genuine intention to forsake Russian oil,” according to analysts, underlining the complexity of breaking energy ties amid geopolitical tensions.

The ongoing reliance raises questions about the effectiveness of EU sanctions and the long-term energy strategy of these nations as the conflict in Ukraine continues.