Hungary has threatened to veto the latest European Union sanctions against Russia and delay aid to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries to Hungary resume. The EU’s foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the 20th round of sanctions against Moscow, aiming for approval before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday.
Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in a video on Sunday that Hungary would block the sanctions, alleging that Ukraine intentionally halted Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline. The disruption in oil deliveries began on Jan. 27 after Ukrainian officials claimed Russian drone attacks damaged the pipeline, escalating tensions between Budapest and Kyiv.
To pass the sanctions, the EU requires unanimous agreement from its 27 member states. While most European countries have reduced or halted Russian energy imports since the conflict began in February 2022, Hungary and Slovakia, as EU and NATO members, have continued and even increased Russian energy supplies, receiving a temporary exemption from the EU’s ban on Russian oil imports.
Hungary also threatened to block a significant 90-billion-euro EU loan to Ukraine intended to support the country’s military and economic requirements for the next two years. Earlier, Hungary and Slovakia announced they would stop diesel shipments to Ukraine due to the oil supply interruptions, with Slovakia warning it would cut off emergency electricity supply if the oil deliveries were not restored by Monday.
Ukraine condemned the actions of Hungary and Slovakia as “ultimatums and blackmail,” accusing the two countries of aiding the aggressor, Russia. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen persistent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving civilians without essential services during severe winter conditions.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his close ties with Russia, has consistently opposed EU sanctions on Moscow and criticized efforts to target Russia’s energy revenues. He has also blocked EU assistance to Ukraine in both military and financial aspects.
In recent developments, Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Ukraine, resulting in casualties and significant damage in the Kyiv region. The assault also targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region, causing fires that were eventually extinguished. Despite ongoing peace efforts, Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine continues, with civilians enduring relentless aerial attacks and disruptions to vital services.
