Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared he will veto the renewal of EU anti-Russian sanctions if Ukraine does not restart gas deliveries. Kiev also has to stop attacks on the TurkStream pipeline, and provide guarantees for continued oil transit.
Orban told Kossuth radio that he had told other EU leaders that “if Ukraine wants to receive assistance, including sanctions against Russia,” it must meet three conditions: restore gas transit, “not use military means to attack” the TurkStream gas pipeline, and not impose a ban on Russian oil supplies to Europe through its territory. Orban warned that “otherwise the sanctions, a decision on which must be made in a week, will not be extended,” reported TASS.
Meanwhile Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto discussed oil and gas supplies from Russia in a telephone conversation with Moscow’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. “Today we discussed regional energy issues over the phone with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Oil and natural gas supplies to Hungary continue, and the TurkStream pipeline is breaking records, so we reaffirmed our commitment to protecting this transport route,” Szijjarto wrote on his Facebook page. He called Ukraine’s suspension of the transit of Russian gas unacceptable, reported TASS.
