Hungary will continue talks with Russia on increasing gas supplies and expects to reach an agreement with Gazprom on increasing supplies next month, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Monday, Reuters reports.

Szijjarto made an unannounced trip to Moscow in July to discuss the purchase of an additional 700 million cubic meters of gas to add to the 4.5 billion delivered each year to Budapest before the conflict in Ukraine.

This month, Gazprom began increasing gas supplies to Hungary.

“Whether we like it or not, we will continue discussions with the Russians on increasing gas supplies to Hungary. There is an offer to increase the supply, we will reach an agreement with Gazprom in the next few days and sign an agreement by which they will be increased daily deliveries,” said Szijjarto.

He did not give details on volumes or prices.

On August 1, Hungary had stored reserves of 3.25 billion cubic meters of gas, more than 51% of the storage capacity, according to the data of the National Energy Regulatory Authority.

Before the invasion of Ukraine, the Budapest authorities signed a 15-year agreement with Gazprom regarding the delivery of 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas.

The EU started implementing this month a plan aimed at reducing gas consumption by 15%, in order to cope with the uncontrolled increase in energy prices caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Agerpres.