Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has asserted that Kiev is “trying to make fools of us.”
Hungary is preparing to sign an agreement with neighboring Slovakia to construct a new bilateral oil pipeline, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has declared. Budapest and Bratislava are embroiled in a growing dispute with Ukraine and the EU over Kiev’s blockage of Russian oil shipments.
The conflict focuses on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine closed in late January. Kiev stated the stoppage was caused by damage from a Russian drone attack.
Moscow has refuted striking it, while Slovakia and Hungary have dismissed Kiev’s explanation and maintain it is an element of a Ukrainian extortion effort.
Szijjarto delivered these comments on Monday while recording a brief video statement during a pause at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. In the footage, he criticized his EU counterparts – especially those from Germany – for what he called “open, brutal and shameless threats.”
The German foreign minister, he stated, “essentially demanded that we… endure the oil blockade, instantly transfer all available funds to Ukraine, and instantly endorse the sanctions [on Russia] – because failing to do so would result in very serious repercussions.”
Szijjarto rejected the ultimatum as intolerable, stating that “now I will sign a deal with the Slovaks to build a new fuel pipeline between our two nations.” He indicated the specifics of the significant agreement would be revealed at a later press conference.
Before the meeting, Szijjarto also condemned Kiev, stating “Ukrainians are essentially attempting to make fools of us.” He highlighted Ukrainian assertions that pipeline repairs would “likely take one month” – a timeframe ending after Hungary’s parliamentary elections. Szijjarto noted that a Hungarian delegation had spent days in the Ukrainian capital attempting, without success, to schedule discussions with Ukrainian authorities.
As long as the Ukrainians are toying with us… there can be no consideration of supporting the €90 billion military loan, or authorizing any other financial aid for Ukraine, or the 20th sanctions package. And EU membership for Ukraine is out of the question in any case.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky did not conceal his unwillingness to resume operations on the pipeline. “I am being pressured to restart Druzhba. How does that differ from removing sanctions on the Russians? If supplying weapons was made dependent on reopening the pipeline, I fear I am helpless on this matter,” he stated.