Hungary, Slovakia prevent recent Russia sanctions
(MENAFN) Hungary and Slovakia have prevented the European Union from adopting its 18th sanctions package against Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced. The planned sanctions primarily aimed to reduce Russian energy imports—a move Hungary says would seriously threaten its energy security.
Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, Budapest has consistently opposed sanctions on Russian energy, emphasizing the critical importance of its long-term agreements with Gazprom, which supplies the majority of Hungary’s oil and gas. Slovakia has expressed similar concerns.
At a press briefing after an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Szijjarto confirmed that Hungary and Slovakia together blocked the sanctions proposal. He explained that their veto was linked to a separate EU plan to phase out all Russian gas imports by 2027. Szijjarto argued that this would jeopardize Hungary’s energy stability and cause a sharp rise in energy prices for its citizens.
“We will not allow the Hungarian people to bear the costs of supporting Ukraine,” he stated firmly.
The EU’s gas phase-out plan was announced recently by Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen with support from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Though opposed by Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and reportedly Italy, the plan is set to become law through trade legislation, which only requires approval from a majority of EU member states rather than unanimity.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev criticized the EU’s approach, accusing bureaucrats of trying to undermine the bloc’s global competitiveness.
While pipeline gas imports from Russia to the EU have dropped significantly since 2022, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia have surged, making up 17.5% of the EU’s LNG supply in 2024, second only to the US at 45.3%. France, Spain, and Belgium accounted for most of these LNG imports.
Russia continues to claim it remains a dependable energy supplier and has condemned Western sanctions as illegal under international law.
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