Budapest Blocks Major EU Financial Aid
The twin veto was issued on Monday amid escalating tensions between Hungary and Ukraine concerning the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. The conduit, which transports Russian crude oil to both Hungary and Slovakia, has been inactive since late January. Ukrainian authorities have attributed the disruption to damage caused by Russia, an accusation Moscow has rejected.
Hungarian officials have aligned with Russia’s position, alleging that Ukraine intentionally restricted oil flows for political leverage. Budapest has characterized the situation as an “oil blockade” and signaled potential countermeasures.
“Ukrainians cannot blackmail us; they cannot jeopardize the security of Hungary’s energy supply by colluding with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition. No, a clear no,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said following discussions among EU foreign ministers on the proposed financial package and sanctions.
Meanwhile, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, indicated that leadership within the bloc had anticipated the measures would pass during the meeting. She described Hungary’s decision as a significant obstacle and called it a “message we did not want to send today.”
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