Rosatom, Lukoil and Gazprom could be included in a new European sanctions package against Russia.
Those measures are now under discussion in Brussels, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on the YouTube program “Hour of Justice” (Igazság órája).
In the interview, Szijjarto accused Brussels of “sanctions fanaticism”:
“They’re putting forward ever more outlandish proposals. Now they want Rosatom, Gazprom and Lukoil to be added to the sanctions list—those Russian energy companies whose cooperation is critically important for Hungary both in terms of energy security and for maintaining reduced overhead costs” (via Magyar Nemzet). https://magyarnemzet.hu/kulfold/2026/02/szijjarto-peter-az-igazsag-orajaban-2
There had been no previous reports that Brussels was weighing sanctions against these Russian corporations.
Last week, the European Commission said the centerpiece of the new, 20th sanctions package would be a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil exports.
Later, it emerged that Brussels for the first time proposed adding ports in third countries to Russia-related sanctions lists.
It was also known that the European Commission plans to submit draft laws providing for a gradual phaseout of Russian pipeline oil and nuclear fuel - mirroring the EU’s ban on imports of Russian LNG approved in late January.
Hungary filed a lawsuit earlier this month challenging the EU decision to fully abandon imports of Russian gas.
Hungary has consistently opposed tough measures against Russia. Along with Slovakia, it is among the only EU countries blocking anti-Russian initiatives in the energy sphere. Both governments actively criticize Brussels’ foreign policy and call for a rethink of the EU’s sanctions strategy.
Beyond its dependence on Russian oil and gas, Hungary is tied to Rosatom, which services the Paks nuclear power plant and is building a new plant - Paks II.
Imposing sanctions on Rosatom, Szijjarto said, would mean that once they take effect, Budapest could no longer purchase fuel for the operating plant from Moscow and its operations would effectively stop:
“We will not be able to continue cooperation on building the new Paks nuclear power plant, and its construction will stop. We will not be able to buy Russian natural gas and Russian oil practically from the day the decision is made. Therefore, whoever does this is our enemy. And Ukraine is now our enemy, because Ukraine is taking hostile steps against Hungary. And we cannot, will not, and will not allow this.”
Rosatom also works with several other countries worldwide: nuclear plants it is building or servicing are located in China, Egypt, India, Belarus and elsewhere.
Czechia and Slovakia also purchase Russian nuclear fuel for their nuclear power plants.
