Szijjarto: Hungary and Slovakia block 18th package of sanctions against Russia
Hungary and Slovakia have jointly blocked the adoption of the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday .
"Slovakia and I have prevented the adoption of the sanctions package today," Sijjarto said at a briefing broadcast on his Facebook page .
He explained that this was done in response to the European Commission's plan to abandon Russian energy. Hungary believes that the ban on buying cheap Russian gas and oil contradicts previous agreements.
"In June 2022, the European Union decided by unanimous vote during the discussion of the sixth sanctions package that Hungary and Slovakia receive a full exemption for an unlimited period of time from the ban on oil purchases from Russia," Szijjarto said.
Hungary cannot veto the European Commission's plan, as a qualified majority is required to pass it (which Szijjártó regards as "a very gross violation of European legal norms"), so it decided to veto the sanctions.
Sijjarto also said that in the context of global energy instability, exacerbated by the threat of blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20-25% of the world's oil and gas passes, the introduction of restrictions on energy purchases will lead to huge losses and an energy supply crisis in the EU.
The Hungarian minister also complained about "increasingly hardline pro-Ukrainian war moods" among European foreign ministers.
According to him, this year alone, the EU has provided Ukraine with support worth 10 trillion forints (about 25 billion euros), but "today it was said that this is not enough.".
"We will not allow Hungarian money to be sent to Ukraine. We are not ready to facilitate any new financial support, any new arms supplies, any new military operations," Szijjarto emphasized .
He said Hungary will continue to defend its national interests regardless of pressure from Brussels.
- may 20 The European Union approves the 17th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes almost 200 shadow fleet vessels, tighter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies, and 75 individuals and legal entities.
