Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and nine Senate colleagues to introduce a bipartisan resolution calling on all remaining European countries, including Hungary, to end their dependence on Russian energy and close remaining loopholes that continue to fund Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unjust and provoked war against Ukraine.
The senators’ resolution welcomes the Trump Administration’s renewed enforcement of Russian energy sanctions and cites President Donald Trump’s statement urging European Union (EU) member states to “immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia.” The resolution credits the EU for its leadership in securing commitments from most member states and undertaking efforts to end their dependence on Russian oil and gas, resulting in a 90 percent reduction since 2022. Hungary remains a prominent outlier, increasing its dependence on Russian oil and funneling billions of dollars to the Kremlin.
“Most European nations have made great strides in reducing their dependence on Russian energy since Putin launched his unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, slashing the energy revenue funding Russia’s war machine. Prime Minister Orbán’s refusal to join other European leaders in making the same commitment will prolong Putin’s war and embolden Russia’s aggression – putting the security of NATO’s eastern flank allies, and thus the entire alliance, at risk,” said Bennet. “President Trump has been clear that America’s allies must cut off their energy ties with Russia amid Putin’s refusal to end this war. He has been equally clear that he considers Prime Minister Orbán to be his friend. President Trump should therefore use his influence with the Prime Minister to ensure that Hungary joins its allies in ending its dependence on Russian energy.”
“One of the most important lessons from Putin’s invasion is that energy dependence on Russia comes at a cost to democracy,” said Shaheen. “Europe has made extraordinary progress cutting its energy ties with Moscow, but Hungary’s actions continue to undermine collective security and embolden the Kremlin. President Trump has made it clear that he expects our allies to stand firm in cutting off Russia’s energy revenues. Ahead of Prime Minister Orbán’s meeting with President Trump, this bipartisan resolution sends a clear message that when it comes to buying Russian energy, all allies should be held to the same standard, and that includes Hungary.”
“Vladimir Putin is a war criminal who uses Russia’s energy exports to fund his campaign of murder and aggression,” said Tillis. “The United States and our allies must continue to stand with Ukraine, strengthen NATO, and cut off the financial lifelines that enable Putin’s brutality. This resolution sends a clear message that we will not allow energy dependence to become a weapon in the hands of a brutal dictator.”
Bennet has staunchly supported the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their democracy against Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked, and unlawful invasion.
In September 2025, he introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure intelligence support to Ukraine. In September, Bennet also introduced legislation to implement the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act – which Bennet co-sponsored and which President Joe Biden signed into law in April 2024 – by sending frozen Russian sovereign assets under U.S. jurisdiction to Ukraine on a quarterly basis.
In April of this year, Bennet introduced a bill that would impose primary and secondary sanctions on Russia – and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine – if Russia refuses to engage in good-faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty after such a peace is negotiated. In March, Bennet demanded that President Donald Trump maintain trade restrictions on Russia as Moscow wages its war in Ukraine.
Bennet has traveled to Ukraine twice since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, visiting in February 2024 and February 2025.
In addition to Bennet, Shaheen, and Tillis, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.) sponsored the resolution.
The text of the resolution is available HERE.
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