As we know that Russia demanded all the “unfriendly nations” to pay for Russian gas, not in dollars, euros, or any other currency but in Russian rubles.
This was one of Moscow’s strategies to shore up the ruble’s value. And it seems to be working as the ruble has gained most of its value lost after the war.
After winning elections for the fourth time in Hungary, President Viktor Orban came out and said, "We don't have any difficulty paying in rubles. If the Russians ask us to, we pay in rubles."
Russia supplies practically all of the 8 billion to 10 billion cubic meters of gas Hungary consumes annually. Hungary, unlike many other Western countries, is not stupid to exploit its relations with Russia and send energy prices through the roof.
Don’t forget that Hungary is an EU country and a NATO member. They are doing what they think is good for their people, not what NATO wants them to do.
President Viktor Orban mostly never aligns with the EU policies against Russia. He has maintained good relationships with Russia and China.
Therefore, criticism from the EU was expected after Orban’s statement.
What can we expect next?
I expect other European countries to do what Hungary did, countries as Austria, Slovenia, Poland, etc. which are heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas. These countries don’t have other means to receive the exact same amount of gas from somewhere else as they do from Russia now. For example, Germany imports 50% of its gas from Russia and they don’t have even one operational LNG terminal to receive LNG as a replacement for Russian gas.
Hungary was the first domino to fall. Which country will be the next?
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