Hungary has issued a threat to veto the latest European Union sanctions against Russia and delay support for Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries to Hungary resume. The EU’s foreign ministers are scheduled to convene in Brussels to discuss the 20th round of sanctions aimed at Moscow, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a social media video, Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó announced plans to block the sanctions, citing Ukraine’s alleged interference with Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline.
The disruption of Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia since January 27, attributed to reported Russian drone attacks damaging the Druzhba pipeline, has strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv. The pipeline serves as a vital conduit for Russian crude oil to Central Europe via Ukrainian territory.
For the sanctions to be enforced, all 27 EU member states must reach a unanimous decision. Despite most European countries significantly reducing or halting Russian energy imports since the commencement of Moscow’s Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Hungary and Slovakia—both EU and NATO members—have continued to receive Russian oil and gas supplies, benefiting from a temporary exemption from the EU’s ban on Russian oil imports.
Additionally, Hungary has declared its intention to block a substantial 90-billion-euro ($106-billion US) EU loan designated for Ukraine to aid in meeting its military and economic requirements over the next two years. This move follows Hungary and Slovakia’s decisions to cease diesel shipments to Ukraine due to the oil disruptions, with Slovakia even threatening to cut off emergency electricity supplies unless oil deliveries are restored promptly.
In response to these actions, Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has condemned what it perceives as “ultimatums and blackmail” by Hungary and Slovakia, accusing the two nations of aligning their interests with the aggressor, Russia. The ministry criticized the disruption in the context of ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, posing risks to regional energy security.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his close ties with the Kremlin, has consistently argued that Russian fossil fuels are essential for Hungary’s economy, warning against a collapse if alternative energy sources are pursued. Orbán has been vocal in opposing EU sanctions on Russia and has thwarted efforts to provide military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
In other developments, Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine, resulting in casualties and damage to infrastructure in the Kyiv region. Ukrainian air force reports revealed the interception and destruction of numerous drones and missiles deployed by Russia. Meanwhile, an unrelated explosion in Lviv caused casualties, with one person arrested in connection with the incident. Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed to have neutralized Ukrainian drones targeting an oil depot in Luhansk, resulting in injuries and property damage.
The escalating situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region, with Hungary’s stance on Russian energy supplies and EU sanctions continuing to shape the response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.