Hungary wants Ukraine to resume gas transit as EU sanctions are about to roll over

Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, said that the European Union should persuade Ukraine so it can resume the transit of gas from Russia into Europe. This is a controversial issue as the EU tries to extend sanctions against Russia in the next week.

Hungary has yet to decide whether it will support the rollover of sanctions due at the end this month. The EU must renew sanctions every six-months and require unanimity from its 27 members to do so.

Orban, who has a government that maintains closer economic and politic relations with Moscow than any other EU country, reiterated on Friday his criticism of sanctions, claiming they have caused financial damage of 19 billion euro ($19,9 billion) to Hungary. He did not explain how the number was calculated.

Orban said on state radio that "now the issue of rolling over the sanctions is at the top of the agenda, and I've pulled the brakes. I asked EU leaders to realize this cannot continue."

"It's not right that we have to pay for helping Ukraine... but they are causing us problems," said he, referring to the recent decision by Ukraine to stop Russian gas flowing to Europe via the Druzhba Pipeline.

Orban added that Budapest wanted assurances from Ukraine that it would not stop Russian crude imports.

The EU's Foreign Ministers will meet Monday to discuss the rollover of sanctions. Hungary's Foreign Minister has already raised a heated debate by saying that Hungary would consult with its U.S. allies in the next few days.

Orban halted EU aid for Ukraine in December 2023 for several weeks.

While the countries of western Europe have been making progress to wean themselves off Russian energy sources, Hungary is a landlocked country that gets 80% of its natural gas and 90% of its crude oil from Russia. The Turkstream pipeline is the only way for Russian gas to reach Hungary.

The EU has halted billions of Euros in funding for Budapest due to concerns that Orban may have damaged the democratic checks and balances.

(source: Reuters)