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Hungary will block the European Union’s latest package of sanctions against Russia unless Ukraine resumes oil transit through a key pipeline supplying Hungary and Slovakia, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Sunday.
“No support for sanctions; the 20th sanctions package will be rejected,” Orban said in a post on X.
Szijjarto said Hungary would not approve measures benefiting Ukraine until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
“Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow decisions important to Kyiv to move forward,” he wrote on X.
Ukraine has said the section of the Druzhba pipeline crossing its territory was damaged on Jan. 27 by Russian strikes, disrupting supplies to Central Europe.
The European Union proposed new sanctions against Russia in early February, targeting the banking and energy sectors in what would be its 20th package since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
The European Commission also plans to activate its anti-coercion instrument for the first time, aiming to ban exports of machine tools and radio equipment to countries deemed at high risk of re-exporting such goods to Russia.
All 27 EU member states must approve the sanctions for them to take effect, giving Hungary veto power over the package.
Hungary has repeatedly opposed EU sanctions on Russia, arguing they harm European economies and energy security while failing to end the war in Ukraine.
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