Hungary and Bulgaria have reached a legally and financially acceptable agreement to continue the transit of Russian gas through Bulgaria to Hungary, despite U.S. sanctions against Gazprombank.
According to Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, this solution was made possible through complex negotiations and well-founded legal approaches, allowing both sides to continue gas deliveries without violating international sanctions.
Szijjártó stated that Hungary continues to pay for Russian gas through Gazprombank, while Bulgaria receives payment for the transit through the same bank. Despite the sanctions imposed, the two countries managed to find a solution that does not breach U.S. sanctions and is not subject to additional restrictions.
Hungary receives Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline, which connects Russia to Turkey, and then transits through Bulgaria to Hungary. This route has become the main channel for natural gas supplies to Hungary. In 2024, Hungary has already received over 7 billion cubic meters of gas via this route, accounting for a significant portion of its total consumption.
This agreement is important not only for Hungary and Bulgaria but for the entire region, as stable gas supplies are crucial for the energy security of Eastern European countries. Thanks to this solution, both countries can avoid disruptions in supply and continue their cooperation with Russia despite external economic restrictions.
