OREANDA-NEWS Hungary should step up efforts to stop purchases of Russian energy carriers, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said, her words are quoted by Politico. "... it is not in their (Hungary's) interests to continue this dependence," she claims.

Simson also expressed regret over the agreement reached between Moscow and Budapest on the construction of the Paks-2 nuclear reactor powered by Russian nuclear fuel.

Hungary and Russia signed a work plan for the construction of the Paks-2 NPP yesterday, according to which the connection of new units to the network is scheduled for the early 2030s, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said.

The only Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary is located one hundred kilometers from Budapest and five kilometers from the city of Paks. Currently, almost half of all electricity in Hungary is generated there, and thanks to the planned commissioning of two new Paksha units, this share is expected to double. For Hungary, nuclear energy is a way to ensure its energy security, the leadership of this country has repeatedly stressed.

On October 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met on the sidelines of the One Belt, One Road forum in Beijing. The latter noted that Budapest does not seek confrontation with Moscow and wants to maintain bilateral relations as much as the sanctions allow. This meeting caused outrage in the West.
Putin, in turn, noted that relations between Russia and Hungary have been built for decades on the basis of taking into account each other's interests.