Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on Sunday that the United States has lifted sanctions linked to the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant. According to Szijjártó, the restrictions had been imposed under the previous Biden administration, which he described as hostile toward Hungary.
The minister emphasized that political decisions made before Donald Trump’s presidency had placed Hungary in difficult positions—especially the sanctions that effectively halted progress on the Paks project, intended to secure the country’s long-term energy needs.
‘One of these measures sought to block Hungary’s efforts to ensure a stable and safe energy future by making further construction at Paks practically impossible,’ he stated.
Szijjártó welcomed what he called a policy shift from Washington since Trump returned to the White House in January. ‘Fortunately, there’s now a president in the White House who views Hungary as a friend. Accordingly, the US government has lifted the sanctions tied to the Paks investment,’ he added.
The minister expressed gratitude to both President Trump and the Republican administration, asserting that the Paks project is vital not only for ensuring energy independence but also for maintaining Hungary’s low utility prices.
Szijjártó underlined that with the sanctions removed, the construction in Paks can now gain new momentum. He said that the manufacturing of key components is ongoing in Russia and France, and site work in Hungary is expected to accelerate.
‘The expansion will enable Hungary to produce most of the electricity it needs domestically by the middle of the next decade,’ he noted, positioning the project as a strategic pillar of national energy sovereignty.
Had the sanctions remained, Hungary would have faced long-term dependence on foreign energy sources, Szijjártó warned. This would have translated into significantly higher utility costs for Hungarian households in the coming years.
‘We’re thankful to President Trump and his administration for supporting us,’ he said. ‘But we still have another battle to fight in Brussels—one that concerns our right to continue buying affordable oil and gas. We will fight that battle too—and we will win.’
The Paks project has long been a cornerstone of Hungary’s energy policy, with support from both Russia and France in its implementation. The recent US policy change is expected to smooth its path after years of international complications.
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