Hungary blocked sanctions

Brussels — Hungary has blocked the planned tightening of sanctions against Russia at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

One day before the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country also reaffirmed its opposition to a multibillion-euro loan for Ukraine.

“This is a setback and a message we did not want to send today,” said the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that his country would only agree to the measures helping Ukraine if Kiev allows the resumption of Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.

He accused the Ukrainian government of deliberately blocking the use of the pipeline, which runs through the country, for political reasons.

Ukraine says that Russian bombing led to flow of oil being stopped at the end of January.

Budapest’s position was supported by Slovakia. Like Hungary, Slovakia still purchases large quantities of Russian crude oil and claims that it cannot guarantee its energy security without the supplies.

The deadlock leaves EU foreign ministers with little time to approve further support for Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Tuesday.

Hungary blocked sanctions

“I am astonished by Hungary’s position,” said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul as he arrived at the foreign ministers meeting.

“I do not believe it is right for Hungary to betray its own struggle for freedom and European sovereignty,” Wadephul said, alluding to the Soviet Union’s decades-long rule of Hungary following World War II.

War anniversary in Kiev

Ministers had been expected to formally sign off on the €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan and the bloc’s 20th package of sanctions on Russia.

On Tuesday, a group of senior EU officials plan to travel to Kiev to mark the anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.

European Council President António Costa, who is among them, said in a letter to Orbán that he would “raise this matter directly” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“A decision taken by the European Council must be respected. When leaders reach a consensus, they are bound by their decision. Any breach of this commitment constitutes a violation of the principle of sincere cooperation,” Costa wrote.

Even prior to the meeting, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had said that Budapest would block both measures unless the Druzhba pipeline supplies resume.

Hungary blocked sanctions

“I think we shouldn’t tie together things that are not connected to each other at all,” said Kallas.

Critical aid for Ukraine

The €90 billion loan was initially agreed by EU leaders, including Orbán, in December and then approved by the European Parliament, but still needs to be formally signed off by EU ministers.

The funding is intended to meet Ukraine’s financial and military needs until the end of 2027, enabling it to further resist Moscow’s larger military might.

The EU’s 20th package of sanctions is to include a ban on maritime services related to exports of Russian crude oil.

In addition, the European Commission has proposed additional financial restrictions to further constrain Russia’s ability to carry out international payments to fund economic activities.

There are fears in Brussels that Orbán is instrumentalizing the conflict for his current election campaign.

Last week, Orbán claimed without any evidence that Ukraine was interested in him losing the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. Orbán argued that Kiev therefore wanted to ensure that heating costs rise in Hungary.