Mihály Varga stressed that Europe needs Russian energy for the time being, but the transition will take a long time and resources will be needed.Continue reading
According to a new study released by the conservative thinktank Századvég, Hungarians reject almost all planned and already imposed sanctions against Russia.
In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the European Union has decided to impose sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the sanctions already imposed have not lived up to expectations and have instead plunged EU member states into crisis as attempts to divest from Russian energy sources have led to extreme uncertainty and increases in oil, electricity and gas prices, Századvég states.
The survey conducted on the sample of 1000 shows a resounding 81% opposition to the European Union and its member states sending arms to Ukraine, and the same level of opposition to banning Russian tourists and tourism from Europe. Only 16% and 17% of respondents agree with these two proposals.
The thinktank’s research shows that
the vast majority of Hungarians want to see peace in their neighborhood, however, in their view arming Ukraine has the opposite effect, and in fact it contributes to prolonging the war, resulting in further human casualties and weakening Europe’s economy by generating war inflation.
In addition, the absence of Russian tourists would also have a negative impact on European tourism revenues and thus on the continent’s economic indicators, claims the study.
The majority of respondents (78%) do not support a ban on Russian oil imports into Europe, the training of Ukrainian soldiers by the European Union (77%), a ban on imports of Russian gas and a permanent withdrawal from Russian gas (75%), or a ban on imports of Russian fuel and raw materials for nuclear power plants (74%). Hungarians are similarly opposed to a ban on imports of Russian coal (71 percent), of goods and services from Russia into Europe (70 percent), on Russian civil aircraft from Europe (68 percent) and a ban on the sale of European goods and services to Russia (67 percent).
The results of the survey show that only one of the retaliatory measures enjoys majority support: 57% of respondents agree with the clampdown on the assets of Russian billionaires and oligarchs, while 37% disagree.
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