Hungary has decided to use the Russian payment scheme for gas and oil. This was reported by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, CNN reports.

 85% of our gas and 65% of our oil supplies come from Russia. Why? Because it is determined by infrastructure. This is not for fun, we have not chosen the situation," Sijjártó said.

In addition, the Minister noted that Hungary has no alternative sources or routes through which it could stop importing Russian energy in the next few years.

According to the Russian payment scheme, importers of energy must open foreign currency and ruble bank accounts in Gazprombank. Sales proceeds are paid in foreign currency (dollars or euros). Subsequently, it is converted by the bank to a ruble account.

Such a scheme, as CNN notes, is used by several other states. This payment scheme, say sanctions experts, allows the Russian Federation to gain access to energy revenues, pointing to sanctions on foreign exchange.

According to CNN's Richard Quest, the Russian energy payment scheme in rubles is "extremely legally convoluted. It gives the Russian president a political advantage.