BUDAPEST, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Hungary purchases openly Russian oil because it has no alternatives, while some other European countries are secretly importing the same crude through intermediaries at lower prices, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here Friday.

"Let us not be misled by the hypocrites, because among those who shout the loudest at Hungary and Slovakia over their oil purchases, there are a significant number who also buy Russian oil, only indirectly, through certain Asian countries," Szijjarto told reporters at a press conference following a meeting of the Hungary-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Committee.

The minister was responding to a question about U.S. President Donald Trump's recent call for European nations to stop importing Russian oil. He said those criticizing Hungary and Slovakia for continuing purchases were themselves involved in similar transactions through indirect channels.

"They do this to buy cheaper oil. They buy Russian oil secretly because it is cheaper. We buy Russian oil openly because we have no other option," he added.

Szijjarto stressed Hungary's energy supply depends on physical infrastructure, as oil and gas can only be delivered through existing pipelines.

He noted that the European Union had declined Hungary's request to expand Southeast European pipeline capacities, while Hungary's southern neighbor, Croatia, increased transit fees instead of enlarging capacity on an alternative route. ■