Hungary Prime Minister Victor Orban is demanding reopening of the pipeline carrying Russian gas through Ukraine in exchange for his support for the expansion of the European Union sanctions on Russia.
Since the full -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union has imposed 15 round of economic sanctions on Moscow, but the 16th ban will not be imposed until the block members unanimously voted to increase the measures till 31 January. Do.
But Hungary’s Orban, a right -wing local and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s associate, has threatened that if Brussels did not agree to reopen Ukraine to reopen the pipeline that deliver Russian gas in middle European countries like Hungary. On restrictions “handbreaks will be pulled”.
Why Hungary wants Ukraine to reopen the pipeline?
After choosing the option not to renew the transit agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom, Kiev closed the pipeline on 1 January. Kiev has said that while he earned revenue from the transit deal, it was even more profitable for Russia.
More than 80% of Hungary’s gas and oil comes from Russia, and Hungary has actually continued to import Russian gas through an alternative passage: Turkish stream pipeline that comes through the balcony.
Orban has also accused the Ukrainian armed forces of attacking the pipeline, and blamed Kiev and Brussels for economic problems in Hungary. He claims that Budapest has lost € 19 billion ($ 19.9 billion) in the last three years from the European Union sanctions on Russia, which exceeds the country’s annual tax revenue.
He told the state radio in a regular interview on Friday, “We are seeking help.” “We are asking [the EU] Ukrainians to announce that they will restore the gas route. It is not true that we continue to suffer the economic consequences of sanctions to help Ukraine while they are playing with us. ”
How has the European Union reacted?
Orban has repeatedly delayed the previous decisions on the European Union sanctions on Russia before approved repeatedly, usually out some headlines that play well with their domestic base.
European Union officials said they hope that Hungary residents would be soft again this time, as there is no plan B.
A diplomat of the European Union told the French AFP news agency, “There will be a serious issue before us in the matter of supporting Ukraine and Ukraine.” He added, “It will put a bomb in the transatlantic relationship.”
Orban threatening to weaken the sanctions came only a few days later when the new US President Donald Trump himself threatened to impose more ban on Russia if he agreed to negotiate to end his “ridiculous war” in Ukraine Did not happen
Therefore, the European Union officials would be surprised whether the proximity of Orban with Trump can weaken their efforts to blackmail brusals on sanctions.
MF/SMS (DPA, AFP)