Press Releases

Bacon and Kaptur Introduce Bipartisan BLOCK PUTIN Act to Hold Hungarian Government Enablers of Russia Accountable

Washington, April 10, 2026
Bacon and Kaptur Introduce Bipartisan BLOCK PUTIN Act to Hold Hungarian Government Enablers of Russia Accountable
 
Washington – On Thursday, April 9, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02), member of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Hungarian Caucus, introduced H.R. 8219, the bipartisan Barring Leverage and Obstruction that Contributes to Kremlin Profits Undermining Transatlantic Interests and NATO Act or the BLOCK PUTIN Act, which will hold senior Hungarian government officials accountable if they continue to block European assistance to Ukraine or deepen Hungary’s dangerous reliance on Russian energy.

This legislation is the House companion to S.4275, the BLOCK PUTIN Act, introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).

This legislation comes amid troubling news that top officials in the Hungarian government, including Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, have coordinated with the Russian government to obstruct European support for Ukraine, protect Russian oligarchs from sanctions, and create a significant vulnerability for Hungary by deepening its dependence on Russian energy. Concerningly, it has also been reported that Hungarian officials signed a secret pact with the Kremlin to deepen Hungary’s reliance on Russia and drift farther from its transatlantic allies.

"As someone with Hungarian roots, I have deep respect for Hungary’s history as a freedom-loving nation that stood up to Soviet oppression in 1956. But today, under Prime Minister Orbán, Hungary has become the most unreliable country in NATO and undermined Ukraine and our allies from within,” said Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02), member of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus. “The BLOCK PUTIN Act makes clear there will be consequences for blocking support to Ukraine, deepening reliance on Russian energy, and reinforces our commitment to our allies. I’m pleased to co-lead this bipartisan effort with Rep. Kaptur and grateful to Sens. Tillis and Shaheen for their leadership in the Senate."
 
“As Co-Chair of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus and a strong advocate for Ohio’s national guard partnership with the nation of Hungary, I share the commitment of the Hungarian and American people who bled for the cause of Democracy and Liberty,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chair of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus. “When Moscow sent tanks to crush the people of Hungary in their Revolution of 1956, the world again saw the cruelty of the Kremlin’s dictatorship. When we listen to these phone calls between top Russian and Hungarian officials, we hear a shocking betrayal of Hungary’s independence and democracy in support of Dictator Vladimir Putin’s ambition to dominate Europe. My colleagues including myself and Congressman Bacon in our Hungarian Caucus affirm the right of the Hungarian people for their hard-fought freedom. Hungarians should know they will always have friends here in America ready to help them combat Putin’s schemes to control their country and extinguish their Liberty.”
 
 

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