Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban demands the reopening of a pipeline carrying Russian gas via Ukraine in exchange for supporting the extension of European Union sanctions against Russia.
The EU imposed 15 cycles of economic sanctions in Moscow since the large -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but there will be no 16th unless the members of the block vote unanimously to prolong Measures by January 31.
But the Hungary Orban, a populist on the right and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatened to “draw the handbrake” on the sanctions of the EU if Brussels does not persuade Ukraine to reopen a pipeline that delivers Russian gases to central European countries such as Hungary.
Why does Hungary want Ukraine to reopen the pipeline?
Kyiv turned off the pipeline on January 1 after choosing not to renew a transit agreement with the Russian gas giant Gazprom. Kyiv said that even if he generated income from the transit agreement, he had been even more profitable for Russia.
More than 80% of Hungarian gas and oil comes from Russia, and Hungary has in fact continued to import Russian gas by another road: the Turkish rivers pipeline that goes up through the Balkans.
Orban accused the Ukrainian armed forces of also attacking this pipeline, and blamed Kyiv and Brussels for economic problems in Hungary. He said that EU sanctions against Russia have cost Budapest 19 billion euros ($ 19.9 billion) in the past three years, more than the country’s annual tax revenues.
“We are asking for help,” he told State Radio in a regular interview on Friday. “We ask (the EU) to ensure that the Ukrainians declare that they will restore the gas way. It is not fair that we continue to bear the economic consequences of the sanctions to help Ukraine while They play with us. “
How did the EU replied?
Orban has repeatedly delayed previous decisions on EU sanctions against Russia before approving them, having generally extracted concessions which have repercussions well with its domestic base.
EU officials said they were hoped that the Hungarians will strengthen this time because there would be no plan B.
“We would have a serious problem both internally and in terms of support for Ukraine,” admitted an EU diplomat to the AFP French news agency, adding: “He would put a bomb in Transatlantic relations. “
The threat of Orban to undermine the sanctions comes only a few days after the new American president Donald Trump himself threatened more sanctions against Russia if she did not accept negotiations to end her “ridiculous war” in Ukraine.
EU officials will therefore wonder if the proximity of Orban with Trump could undermine his efforts to make Brussels sing for sanctions.
MF / SMS (DPA, AFP)
