Top US senator warns Hungary and Slovakia over Russian energy purchases

Politico ^ | September 16, 2025 | Seb Starcevic

[fluorescence]

United States Senator Lindsey Graham hit out at Hungary and Slovakia over their purchases of Russian energy, threatening the Central European countries with “consequences” if they don’t end their reliance on Moscow.

American President Donald Trump last week called on NATO countries to “stop buying oil from Russia,” pledging to sanction Moscow once they had all done so. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also called on the EU’s remaining buyers of Russian fossil fuels to look elsewhere for their energy.

Graham, a top Trump ally, said in a social media post that the president was “right to demand that Europe stop buying Russian oil” and conceded Europe had largely done so — adding it was “now virtually down to Hungary and Slovakia.”

“I hope and expect them to step up to the plate soon to help us end this bloodbath,” he said. “If not, consequences should and will follow.”

[snip]

Budapest “increased its Russian crude reliance from 61 percent pre-invasion to 86 percent in 2024,” while Bratislava “remained almost 100 percent dependent on supply from Moscow,” according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

[Openurmind]

The deep state has now appointed Graham as the proxy President.

[dljordan]

Did I miss something? Is Linda now in charge of our foreign policy?

[montag813]

Where the hell are they supposed to buy it from? Idiot.

[Biblebelter]

EU’s remaining buyers of Russian fossil fuels

If Euroweenies were serious about taking care of their own business, there wouldn't be any remaining buyers after all this time.

But it is bit laughable.

A American uniparty weenie trying to get the Euroweenies to jump when she says jump.

[adorno]

The deep state has now appointed Graham as the proxy President.

Such nonsense.

[adorno]

Did I miss something? Is Linda now in charge of our foreign policy?

Such nonsense.

But, believe it or not, congress does have a voice when it comes to foreign policy.

[adorno]

Where the hell are they supposed to buy it from?

True. Those countries are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If the U.S. wants them to stop buying oil from Russia, the U.S. needs to become the alternative source before they stop buying from Russia.

[Alberta's Child]

The fact that these European leaders are calling Russia an “existential threat” to Europe even while they still buy Russian oil (and, even more so, NATURAL GAS) is all you need to know about this idiocy.

I wish Lindsey Graham (R-Boeing) would just take off his skirt and go enlist in the Ukrainian army so he can leave Americans alone.

[adorno]

If Euroweenies were serious about taking care of their own business, there wouldn't be any remaining buyers after all this time.

Those countries have no alternative. What would you suggest as their source for energy?

India and China ans a few others are the major Russian oil purchasers. The remaining buyers are what's keeping Russia making money from their oil, not the European countries.

But it is bit laughable.

I failed to see the humor in this.

A American uniparty weenie trying to get the Euroweenies to jump when she says jump.

Attaboy! Simple as that.

That will stop the Euroweenies and the unipparty weenies from listening when 'she says jump'. Trump and the Europeans need to listen to your suggested solutions to this major issue.

[adorno]

I wish Lindsey Graham (R-Boeing) would just take off his skirt and go enlist in the Ukrainian army so he can leave Americans alone.

I agree. That would solve everything, and Russia would no longer be a threat to Europe or anybody else.

BTW, what do you have against Boeing? Are you trying to denigrate the company?

[Openurmind]

He has more clout with the globalists than anyone else up there. He is their mouthpiece.

[Alberta's Child]

I have nothing against Boeing, except when they employ politicians to work for them behind some veneer of “democracy” and “political campaign contributions.”

I describe Graham the way I did in that post to demonstrate that he represents Boeing Corp. in the U.S. Senate, not the citizens of South Carolina.

[montag813]

If the U.S. wants them to stop buying oil from Russia, the U.S. needs to become the alternative source before they stop buying from Russia.

And get it to them, how? Trucks? They are landlocked countries. There is no U.S. pipeline. Graham is such a moron.

[adorno]

And get it to them, how? Trucks?

Yeah, trucks. Doofus. If not trucks, we can drop it from planes. Maybe submarines?

They are landlocked countries.

We have a lot of landlocked states, and yet, we get oil and gasoline and gas to them. Doofus.

There is no U.S. pipeline.

Eeer hear of oil tankers? Doofus.

Graham is such a moron.

YOU are such a moron.

The U.S. actively sells large amounts of oil to the European Union; the U.S. is currently the EU's largest supplier of crude oil, with these exports significantly increasing after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent sanctions on Russian energy. In 2024, U.S. energy exports to the EU were valued at around $70 billion, accounting for approximately 18% of the EU's total energy imports for that year. Key Details

Largest Supplier: The U.S. has surpassed Russia to become the EU's top supplier of crude oil.

Shift in Trade: This turnaround was a significant shift from pre-2022 when the U.S. was a distant second to Russia as an oil supplier to the EU.

Drivers of Change: The invasion of Ukraine and the resulting EU sanctions on Russian energy imports led to a major reordering of the EU's energy supplies. U.S. Energy Exports to EU: In 2024, total U.S. energy exports to the EU were approximately $70 billion, a figure driven largely by increased exports of natural gas and oil. Current Context: These U.S. oil exports to Europe have continued to rise, partly due to the integration of U.S. WTI crude into the European Dated Brent benchmark, which likely attracted more U.S. oil to the continent.

[Biblebelter]

Trump and the Europeans need to listen to your suggested solutions to this major issue.

Trump HAS LISTENED.

I and a many other America Firsters have suggested that America walk away from this conflict.

And Trump has WALKED AWAY in plain sight.

Those countries have no alternative. What would you suggest as their source for energy?

That's funny.

That's a question you should ask Trump not me.

He's the one who made the original statement as to the Euroweenies stop buying Russian energy which is the basis of this report.

[adorno]

I have nothing against Boeing, except when they employ politicians to work for them behind some veneer of “democracy” and “political campaign contributions.”

I suppose that's unheard of, and new to you, that companies seek favors from those in politics and in government.

I describe Graham the way I did in that post to demonstrate that he represents Boeing Corp. in the U.S. Senate, not the citizens of South Carolina. ,br>
Then, you better close your eyes and ears, and not pay attention to how things work in politics. Lobbying is the biggest business in Washington and in other major areas of politics and government. ALL companies do it, especially the biggest ones out there, including Boeing.

You probably believe that Trump took major contributions from Boeing too, since he chose them to produce the next generation fighter jet, named F-47. Wonder what the 47 is about? To boot, Trump flies all over the U.S and around the world in.... wait for it.... Boeing jets. OMG! Trump, YOU"RE FIRED!

[adorno]

He has more clout with the globalists than anyone else up there. He is their mouthpiece.

He may not be likeable, but he does get the job done. Hmmm... wonder why he's been in the senate so long... must be he's cheating to get elected?

[Openurmind]

“but he does get the job done.”

What job? He thinks his job is to perpetuate war and keep the Military Industrial Complex in profits.

[Alberta's Child]

There’s nothing wrong with companies seeking favors from those in politics and government.

But I call them — and their paid hirelings in government — out when those favors are not in my best interests or the best interests of the nation. The End.