'Open the gas route'. Orban sets conditions for Ukraine to extend sanctions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has set conditions for extending European sanctions against Russia, which are due to expire next week. In an interview with Kossuth Radio, Orban stated that Ukraine must restore the transit of Russian gas and guarantee the continuation of oil transit.

"Ukrainians are trying to set us up, to put it politely," Orban said, as quoted by 24.hu.

Orban noted that Hungary is not reliant on Ukrainian gas transit, as it has been importing Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline for several years, which meets the country's energy needs and allows it to assist Slovakia.

However, Orban claims that Ukraine's actions have allegedly increased gasoline prices in Hungary.

He believes that sanctions against Russia have already cost Hungary 19 billion euros, a situation he finds unacceptable.

Orban urged European leaders to stop extending sanctions, stating that aid to Ukraine should not involve closing gas routes.

"I applied the handbrake and asked European leaders to understand that this cannot go on," Orban said.

The European sanctions up for renewal at the end of December target various economic sectors and include the freezing of Russian central bank assets. Unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states is required to extend the sanctions.

"If you want help, then open the gas route again," he added, addressing Ukraine, and demanded assurances that such actions would not recur with oil.

Orban also criticized the European Union for prioritizing support for Ukraine over the interests of Central European countries that are also EU members.

The European Union is preparing contingency plans, including leveraging an old Belgian law, to maintain sanctions against Russia if Hungary obstructs their extension.