Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Budapest will block the European Union's adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, as the Ukrainian authorities are allegedly deliberately not repairing the Druzhba pipeline.
He wrote about this on the social network X on February 22.
Szijjártó noted that at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on February 23, where the next package of anti-Russian sanctions is planned to be adopted, the Hungarian side will support it and block it.
“Hungary will block it (the sanctions package – ed.). Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow decisions important for Kyiv to be made,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister said.
What is known about the Russian attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure and the threats of Hungary and Slovakia to stop oil supplies to these countries from Russia?
On January 27, the infrastructure of the Druzhba oil pipeline was damaged as a result of a Russian attack on the Lviv region. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Ukraine informed Hungary about the Russian shelling of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Brody, Lviv region, and the corresponding damage on January 27, and that Ukraine's accusations of a delay in supplies are illogical.
On February 21, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the country would stop supplying electricity to Ukraine on February 23 if Ukraine did not resume oil transit to the country via the Druzhba pipeline. The same statement was also published by the Hungarian government.
Hungary also blocked a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine because Ukraine allegedly failed to restore the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged by Russian attacks.
At the same time, the governments of both countries did not note that it was Russia that fired on the infrastructure of the Druzhba oil pipeline and did not condemn the Russian attacks.
Earlier, Budapest and Bratislava announced the suspension of diesel exports to Ukraine until the resumption of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.
The European Commission noted that they would like Ukraine to resume the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline, but since there is a risk of repeated attacks from Russia, the decision on this should be made by Ukraine.