Hungary has issued a stern warning: If the European Union (EU) and Ukraine do not ensure the country's energy security, Budapest will veto the extension of EU sanctions against Russian individuals next March.
In a statement broadcast on M1 TV, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto affirmed that he will closely monitor the EU's commitment to energy security for Hungary and Central Europe.
The EU has promised that Ukraine will not jeopardize Hungary’s energy supplies. If Brussels fails to keep its word or force Kiev to do so, Hungary will react strongly in the upcoming vote on sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Szijjarto said.
Budapest has asked the EU to start a dialogue with Ukraine and bring Hungary and Slovakia to the negotiating table. The European Commission (EC) has been forced to accept this condition. “If those who made promises do not keep them, we will soon see how Hungary votes at the sanctions meeting in March,” said Foreign Minister Szijjarto.
Hungary's demands include: Ukraine must continue to transit Russian gas to Hungary; Not to obstruct the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline; Protect the TurkStream gas pipeline from attacks.
In return, Hungary agreed to extend EU sanctions against Russia for another six months from January 31. But if the EU fails to keep its promise, Budapest will block individual sanctions against more than 2,000 Russian entities in March.
Last fall, the EU Council extended individual sanctions against a large group of Russian individuals and legal entities until March 15, 2025. These restrictions target more than 2,000 Russian citizens and Russian companies.
The sanctions include travel bans to the EU, asset freezes and a ban on doing business with these individuals or companies. These measures, like sectoral economic sanctions, are renewed by the EU every six months.
