In Hungary, something that does not fit into Polish geopolitical sensitivity happened. The construction of a fresh atomic power plant was officially started in Paks close Budapest. The contractor is Russian Rosatom! Isn't that amazing?
When on Russian natural materials (coal, oil, gas) Brussels releases further bans, embargoes, sanctions (twenty already a package...) as Ukrainians without light and heat effort to last the harsh winter General Frost ravaged Ukraine., and between the West and Russia there is simply a war, including energy... in the European Union, the construction of a Russian power plant begins. On February 5, the first concrete was poured into the fresh PAKS II reactors.
This task has a long, very long history. Hungarian efforts began, as did ours, in 2009, erstwhile in February, after the Ukrainian winter gas crisis, it was decided to set up 2 fresh blocks. They were to be built at the already operational PAKS atomic power plant, built by the USSR in the 1980s. In November 2010, Viktor Orbán was the first time as Prime Minister in Moscow and spoke discreetly to Vladimir Putin about a fresh atomic power plant. And long hours, including lunch. 3 years later, amazing everyone, contracts were signed in the Kremlin to build 2 Russian reactors. There were very stormy days – fighting raged on the streets of Kiev, president Yanukovych was overthrown, Crimea was occupied, the war on Donbasa began. present is even worse.
From a business perspective, Hungary has made the best possible choice – Rosatom reactors are cheap, proven by many years of practice and are inactive being improved. The Russians have gained almost 90% of the world's atomic power plant exports, and they are besides building in their country. It is simply a very inexpensive task (2400 MW of energy for EUR 12.5 billion, 80% financed by Russia), put up for Russian loans, low-interest loans and paid off only after launch.
Politically, however, it was a choice of the most difficult, even stunted, which all years of preparation and construction proved. At the beginning of a good fewer years, the European Union destroyed this project. Hungarian gymnasts were very strong to push him through the Brussels decision-making maze, but succeeded – all permissions were issued after respective years.
But then it started much worse – a sharp geopolitical conflict, which caused the task to hang on a thread for years. The date of commencement of construction was repeatedly moved. The German government torpedoed supplies of key components, so Siemens transferred its company to Hungary, bypassing the bans. But the biggest threat was the US sanctions imposed on Gazprom Bank. The full task was funded through this institution, and the cut-off from the dollar, the full Western payment system, killed the project.
The enemies of this task and Orbán had already shrouded their hands with joy, but the Hungarian Prime Minister performed a neck-to-head, even an equilibristic operation. Viktor Orbán utilized his close relation with the presidents of both Russia and the States to accomplish what seemed impossible in today's geopolitical conditions. Last November he went to Moscow, met with Vladimir Putin, straight seeking to proceed energy cooperation. And he's achieved what was officially announced.
He then made a deal with Donald Trump. As his best European ally, supporting him from the very beginning, in good and bad times for Donald Trump. He won the repeal of sanctions against Hungary. Of course, the Americans had to be paid for it, the rules of the game, so there was a atomic deal. The largest beneficiary is Westinghouse, which was brought from the White home another client for his counterfeit Russian atomic fuel. Thanks to this diplomacy between superpowers, the task can be ready in 2030, although after so many delays it will most likely start a year – 2 later.
Atom is expected to save this land without access to the sea from energy dependence. If the share of atomic energy reaches 70% of the needs, it will be a unchangeable and price-free energy model, adapted to the needs of industry, and Hungary is primarily committed to this. And cooperation with Russia in the atom, but besides in natural gas and oil,j allows them to do so. Brave Hungarians, even in times of war in Ukraine, see atomic energy as “a tool to reconstruct pragmatic relations between the east and the west”. Orbán spoke of PAKS II as "the flagship of cooperation between the East and the West" and "that is why it must be completed". An enviable determination.
Andrzej Szczęsniak
Think Poland, No. 7-8 (15-22.02.2026)