Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó claimed that Kiev is “trying to fool us.”
Hungary is set to sign an agreement with neighboring Slovakia on the construction of a new bilateral oil pipeline, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has announced. Budapest and Bratislava are locked in a growing dispute with Ukraine and the European Union over Kiev’s blockage of Russian oil supplies.
The row centers around the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which was shut down by Ukraine in late January. Kiev claimed the blockage was due to damage caused by a Russian drone strike.
Moscow has denied targeting it, while Slovakia and Hungary have rejected Kiev’s account and insist it is part of a Ukrainian blackmail campaign.
Szijjarto made the comments while filming a short video address during a break at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. In one clip, he attacked his EU colleagues – particularly those from Germany – over what he described as “Open, cruel and shameless threats.”
The German Foreign Minister said, “Basically we were expected to … tolerate the oil blockade, immediately hand over all available funds to Ukraine, and immediately accept sanctions (on Russia) – because if we don’t do that, there will be very serious consequences.”
Szijjarto called the ultimatum unacceptable, saying “Now I will sign an agreement with the Slovaks about the construction of a new fuel pipeline between the two countries.” He said details of the historic agreement would be announced at a press conference later.
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Before the session, Szijjarto also attacked Kiev, saying “The Ukrainians are basically trying to fool us.” He pointed to Ukrainian claims that the pipeline would be repaired “It’ll probably take a month.” – The deadline coming after Hungary’s parliamentary elections. Szijjarto said a Hungarian delegation had spent several days in the Ukrainian capital trying unsuccessfully to arrange talks with Ukrainian officials.
As long as the Ukrainians are playing games with us… there can be no question of voting in favor of a €90 billion military loan, or any other financial aid to Ukraine, or approving the 20th sanctions package. And for Ukraine, EU membership can be forgotten anyway.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has not hidden his reluctance to reopen the pipeline. “I am being forced to reopen Druzhba. How is this different from lifting sanctions on the Russians? If arms deliveries were made conditional on reopening the pipeline, I am afraid, I am powerless on this issue.” He said.
