Szijjártó hints that Hungary will block Ukraine’s path to EU by stopping transit of Russian energy resources
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has responded to a bill registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that bans the transit of Russian oil and gas during martial law.
Szijjarto published the relevant post on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.
The Hungarian minister said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine " reacted quite aggressively" to his previous post with accusations against Ukraine regarding gas transit. He also mentioned that the Verkhovna Rada had proposed a legislative ban on the transit of Russian oil and gas through Ukraine during martial law.
"In this regard, we must respectfully draw the attention of our Ukrainian colleagues to the fact that there is reality, there are rights and there are responsibilities," the Hungarian Foreign Minister wrote.
Szijjarto hinted that Hungary would block Ukraine's path to the EU by stopping the transit of Russian energy resources.
"The reality is that in the EU, member states collectively and unanimously decide on the admission of new members. In other words, every member state has to vote in favor," the diplomat said.
He noted that each state "has the sovereign right to decide where and how it buys the energy it needs to function," and no one has the right to "impose" more expensive energy resources on another country.
"A country that enters into an association agreement with the EU or even wants to become a member is obliged to contribute to the EU's energy security by providing transportation routes. Therefore, the closure of gas or oil routes is unacceptable and contrary to the expectations associated with EU integration," the Hungarian minister said.
Stopping Russian gas transit
As a reminder, at 07:00 on January 1, 2025, the transportation of Russian natural gas through Ukraine was stopped in the interests of national security.
The Cabinet of Ministers said that Ukraine had duly informed the European Commission about the termination of gas transit. European countries are prepared.
