Hungary leads EU in spending on Russian gas during first eight months of the year

Eurostat and the Hungarian Central Statistical Office report that Hungary remained the EU's biggest buyer of Russian gas in the first eight months of the year, despite cutting its pipeline imports by roughly 10%. Bulgaria and Greece were the next largest spenders. The REPowerEU package, amended in January, requires all member states to cease short-term Russian LNG contracts by late April and to stop pipeline spot purchases by mid-June.

A complete ban on LNG imports is scheduled for January 2027, with long-term pipeline contracts also prohibited from November 2027. Analysts say the remaining risk stems from the Hormuz Strait and U.S. LNG availability rather than Russian supply itself.