Hungarian Foreign Minister demands guarantees before extending anti-Russia sanctions
Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, has made it clear that he is seeking guarantees on the country’s future energy security from either Ukraine or the European Union before meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels on Monday.
In an interview with public radio on Sunday, Szijjártó emphasized that putting Hungary’s economy and energy security at risk would be a red line for the country. He expressed opposition to extending existing sanctions against Russia, stating that sanctions were harmful and caused greater damage to Europe’s economy than to Russia’s.
Szijjártó highlighted Hungary’s efforts to prevent harm to national security and strategic interests, noting that Brussels had not been able to enforce sanctions against Hungary’s will regarding gas deliveries or nuclear industrial cooperation.
He also criticized the European Union for turning a blind eye to attacks on energy shipments to Hungary and Slovakia, as well as the TurkStream pipeline. Szijjártó accused the EU of encouraging Ukraine to behave shamelessly towards certain member states and attempting to manipulate Hungary’s stance on sanctions and energy security.
Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary’s interests come first and called for EU leaders to act in the interests of member states rather than imposing decisions unilaterally. He criticized the lack of unanimity in decision-making regarding sanctions, warning that bypassing democratic processes could undermine the rule of law and democracy within the EU.
The foreign minister’s statements come amid tensions within the EU over sanctions against Russia and energy security issues, with Hungary positioning itself to protect its national interests in the face of external pressures.
