Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said his government may consider further measures against Ukraine to encourage the resumption of Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, which have been suspended since January due to Russian drone attacks. In remarks to the media in Brussels following his decision to block a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, Orbán emphasised that his administration has “several options” beyond withholding essential financial support that Ukraine requires to strengthen its armed forces and maintain its economy.
“We have other tools as well,” he said. “Forty per cent of Ukraine’s electricity supply goes through Hungary, we haven’t touched that yet. (The EU) constantly wants to introduce new sanctions (against Russia). That will require unanimity, and we will not give it.”
Recent developments have intensified tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, leading to a significant dispute regarding Hungary’s access to Russian oil via a pipeline that traverses Ukrainian territory. Interruptions in oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline occurred following Ukraine’s report of damage to the pipeline’s infrastructure due to a Russian drone strike.
The Hungarian government has accused Ukraine of intentionally imposing an “oil blockade” that disrupts the supply of Russian crude oil and has expressed its intention to obstruct all European Union measures intended to support Kyiv until the shipments resume.
Hungary and Slovakia remain the only EU countries that continue to import Russian oil, aided by the amicable relations their prime ministers maintain with the Kremlin.
In an effort to encourage Orbán to lift the blockade on the loan to Ukraine, EU officials announced on Tuesday that the bloc would provide technical support and funding to help repair the pipeline, an offer that Ukraine has accepted.
Furthermore, Orbán has indicated potential opposition to the EU’s upcoming seven-year budget if it includes financial assistance for Ukraine, remarking, “We have a lot of cards in our hands, so I don’t think it’s worth picking a fight with Hungary.”
During a recent meeting, EU leaders expressed their concerns about Orbán’s decision to block the loan to Ukraine, suggesting it hinders vital aid and complicates EU decision-making, seemingly for electoral gain.
As Orbán approaches what is predicted to be a highly competitive election on 12 April, he has intensified an extensive campaign portraying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a significant threat to Hungary’s security. He asserts that Zelenskyy, in conjunction with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is attempting to involve Hungary in the ongoing conflict initiated by Russia, which has now extended into its fifth year. Orbán contends that his reelection is essential for ensuring peace and security in Hungary.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
