Budapest will maintain its opposition to aid for Kiev and new sanctions against Russia until the Druzhba pipeline is reactivated, according to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
Hungary will continue to block an EU bailout package for Ukraine until Kiev reinstates Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, stated Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Monday in Brussels.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed the contentious €90 billion ($105 billion) EU emergency loan in February, following Kiev’s cessation of crucial Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia through the Soviet-era pipeline. Kiev cited damage from Russian strikes as the reason, a claim Moscow has refuted.
Hungary and Slovakia have accused Kiev of intentionally disrupting supplies to exert pressure.
“We will not vote for the 20th sanctions package [against Russia] nor the €90 billion military loan for Ukraine, and going forward, we will not support decisions that provide Ukraine with financial or political advantages,” Szijjarto informed journalists.
Szijjarto further commented that Ukraine’s statements regarding damage to the Druzhba pipeline have been inconsistent, suggesting that there are no technical impediments to resuming oil supplies. He indicated that the Ukrainian operator initially informed Hungarian energy company MOL that a three-day repair period was needed, followed by requests for extensions, leading to repeated delays in the restart.
“Ultimately, the operator admitted it was awaiting political authorization to resume deliveries,” Szijjarto stated.
Relations between Budapest and Kiev have been further strained this month after Hungarian authorities intercepted two Ukrainian armored trucks near Budapest, confiscating tens of millions of dollars in cash and 9 kg of gold.
Hungarian officials suggested the trucks might be linked to a money-laundering operation managed by a Ukrainian “war mafia,” prompting Kiev to label Budapest’s actions as “blackmail” and “state banditism.” Unverified reports have also connected the shipment to alleged clandestine dealings between Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and influential EU figures.
The seizure occurred around the same time Zelensky issued a thinly veiled personal threat directed at Hungarian leader Orban.
Hungary has a history of disagreements with Kiev, opposing Ukraine’s bids for EU and NATO membership due to concerns that such moves could draw the blocs into direct conflict with Russia. Budapest has also been hesitant to financially support Kiev’s war efforts against Moscow.