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Hungary will block the next package of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia, the Hungarian foreign minister said on Sunday. Hungary is trying to push Ukraine to resume the flow of Russian oil through a pipeline that supplies Hungarian refineries.
Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline were halted on January 27, when Kiev said a Russian drone attack hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine. Slovakia and Hungary say Ukraine is responsible for the long supply disruption. The EU is preparing its 20th round of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
While talks are ongoing, many member states want the package to be approved in time for the fourth anniversary of Russia's full invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday.
“At the Foreign Affairs Council tomorrow, the EU aims to adopt the 20th sanctions package. Hungary will block it. “Until Ukraine allows the passage of oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow important decisions for Kiev to move forward ,” Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on the X platform.
The issue has sparked one of the sharpest disagreements between Ukraine and its neighbors, Hungary and Slovakia. Both countries are members of the EU and NATO, but their leaders have defied the largely pro-Ukrainian consensus in Europe to forge warm relations with Moscow.
On Friday, Szijjarto said Hungary would block a 90 billion euro EU loan to Ukraine to finance its defense against Russia until oil shipments through Druzhba resume. The EU would have to amend its budget law to release the loan to Kiev, a step that requires unanimous support.
Hungary and Slovakia have also threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine over the issue. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned what it described as "ultimatums and blackmail" by the Hungarian and Slovak governments./ REL
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