Hungary has set out to find alternative ways restore oil supplies.Continue reading
At the MCC Feszt organized by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, criticized the EU for its stance on Russian oil transports.
Minister Szijjártó criticized Ukraine’s decision to block Lukoil’s oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia, stating it endangers their energy security. He condemned the EU for its weak stance, suggesting a coordinated process from Brussels:
this is happening because we are not giving up our pro-peace position and we are speaking frankly, which is uncomfortable for Brussels.”
Péter Szijjártó also accused Croatia of exploiting its position by increasing transit fees and forcing short-term contracts. “The EU cannot be so weak as to tolerate a decision by a candidate country that threatens the energy supply of an EU member state. This idea can only come from Brussels,” he concluded.
Ukraine’s blockade affects a significant portion of Hungarian (about 30%) and Slovakian (40-45%) oil imports.
According to Magyar Nemzet, Russian Foreign Affairs’ spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reacted to the Hungarian Foreign Minister’s speech. In a statement to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, she suggested that the US is orchestrating these events to ensure the EU remains dependent on its energy resources.
She claimed that the US exerts control over Brussels and benefits economically and politically from the situation.
Ms. Zakharova linked this influence to the EU’s reluctance to enter long-term contracts with Russia and their opposition to the Nord Stream pipeline.
Maria Zakharova. Photo: Facebook / Maria Zakharova
Currently, the situation remains tense, with Hungary opposing Ukraine’s blockade of oil shipments and criticizing both the EU’s perceived weakness and Croatia’s opportunism. The Hungarian government, represented by Péter Szijjártó, insists that as long as Ukraine threatens its energy supply, Hungary will not agree to pay for resources as part of any peace agreement.
Via Magyar Nemzet, MTI; Featured Image: Pexels