European Union foreign policy chief: Hungary is blocking the adoption of new sanctions against Russia
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that the bloc wouldn’t be able to adopt a new sanctions package against Russia because of Hungary’s Veto.
“We’ve heard very firm statements from Hungary and unfortunately I don’t really see how they can go back to the position they are defending today,” Kallas said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“Of course, we are doing everything we can to move forward with the sanctions package and pass it,” she said.
The European Commission has put forward the 20th package of sanctions against Russia since the war in Ukraine broke out on February 24, 2022, with the aim of adopting it before Tuesday, which marks the four-year anniversary of the outbreak of the war.
But Hungary announced over the weekend that it intended to block this as long as it wasn’t allowed to resume the export of Russian oil through a damaged pipeline through Ukraine.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Sunday that “Hungary will use the veto, as long as Ukraine doesn’t resume oil supplies reaching Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba line”.
From his part, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also announced that he would block a €90 billion loan for Ukraine announced in December for the same reasons.
Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of preventing the reopening of the pipeline, which Kyiv says has been damaged by Russian strikes.
Slovakia maintains that the line has been repaired, but Kiev is keeping it closed to pressure it and Hungary over their refusal to allow Ukraine to join the European Union, a path under discussion in the bloc.
German Foreign Minister Johan Vadiful said on Monday upon his arrival in Brussels that he was surprised by the Hungarian position.
His Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna said: “If we can’t impose sanctions on Russia, it will be satisfied”.
The European Union on Friday introduced new sanctions against Russia targeting the banking and energy sectors, including depriving ships carrying Russian oil of maritime services and towing them at ports and elsewhere.
