Szijjarto pointed to Hungary's blocking of sanctions before the launch of Druzhba

Hungary will announce at the meetings of the foreign ministers and energy ministers of the European Union (EU) that it will not support the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and a loan to Ukraine worth €90 billion until Kiev launches the Druzhba pipeline. This was announced on March 16 by the head of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto.

"The 20th package of sanctions and a loan of €90 billion can be included in the agenda only if the Ukrainians resume oil supplies and give us guarantees that they will never stop them again," Szijjarto said in a video message posted on Facebook (owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation).

The diplomat added that Budapest's position on Ukraine's membership in the EU remained unchanged: this is "out of the question."

Druzhba in debt: EU may make concessions to Hungary for the sake of a loan to Ukraine

Is Brussels able to convince Orban, who does not intend to lift the veto on the financing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said yesterday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would never resume oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. According to Fico, what is happening looks like Slovakia is being punished for its peaceful position and lack of support for military loans to Ukraine. Fico also accused Kiev of trying to convince the EU that Friendship was inoperable.

On March 14, Fico called for giving the EU a mandate to negotiate with Russia to resolve the situation in Ukraine. He pointed out that the EC had formally sided with Bratislava in the situation with Kiev stopping oil pumping through the Druzhba pipeline, but was not exerting enough pressure on Zelensky to restore supplies.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also announced the creation of a commission on the Druzhba oil pipeline with Bratislava.

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