Overview

• Hungary’s Viktor Orbán told President Trump that cutting off Russian oil and gas would immediately slash economic output by 4% and leave the economy “on its knees.”
• Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico defended continued purchases, saying they account for roughly 2% of Russia’s oil and gas revenue and asserting Slovakia lacks viable short‑term alternatives.
• Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar warned that breaking contracts running to 2034 could cost up to €10 billion and asked EU partners for empathy, exemptions or compensation.
• EU negotiators are advancing a 19th sanctions package to phase out Russian LNG by early 2027 with separate legal proposals to end all Russian fossil‑fuel imports by 2028, measures that require unanimous backing.
• Analysts say Hungary and Slovakia—still sourcing most crude from Russia—could tap options such as Croatia’s Adria pipeline and EU LNG terminals, while Slovakia says it is discussing alternative routes with Washington.