Poland criticizes Hungary as EU visit to Kyiv arrives empty-handed
When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa travel to Kyiv for a day of remembrance four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, they will bring little beyond condolences — a failure that has prompted sharp criticism from poland and other capitals after Hungary blocked planned EU measures.
What the EU had planned for Kyiv
EU leaders had hoped to offer Kyiv concrete support: fresh sanctions against Moscow and a €90 billion loan to finance Ukraine’s defense. The loan had been agreed by EU leaders in December and was intended as a major element of the visit’s choreography. The planned sanctions were to be Europe’s 20th package targeting Russia.
Hungary’s decision to block the 20th sanctions package
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced his country would block Europe’s 20th round of Russian sanctions because of an oil dispute with Ukraine. He also threatened to use Budapest’s veto to hold back the €90 billion loan that EU leaders agreed in December. The move spoiled the EU’s carefully choreographed trip to Kyiv and left leaders without the concrete help they had intended to present.
Poland’s Radosław Sikorski and other ministers react
Poland’s counterpart, Radosław Sikorski, said he expected “a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine. ” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was “astounded about the Hungarian position. ” Sweden’s Europe Minister Jessica Rosencrantz called the move a “new low” for Viktor Orbán and said, “We’ve seen in previous decisions that Hungary is not acting in a way of sincere cooperation, ” adding, “We’re seeing what Orbán is doing: he’s using Ukraine as a punching bag. ” With EU foreign affairs chiefs gathered in Brussels on Monday to approve the sanctions, those ministers could not contain their fury.
Budapest’s explanation: the Druzhba pipeline and energy security
The dispute centers on the Druzhba pipeline, which stretches 4, 000 kilometers from eastern Russia to Central Europe and supplies large quantities of oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Both Hungary and Slovakia have exemptions from EU sanctions on imports of Russian refined oil. The pipeline has been offline since Jan. 27, when Ukrainian authorities said a Russian strike damaged it. Budapest and Bratislava accuse Ukraine of intentionally keeping the pipeline inoperative.
Péter Szijjártó’s accusations and Kyiv’s allies’ responses
Szijjártó went so far as to claim Kyiv was trying to orchestrate an energy crisis in Hungary ahead of the country’s elections. He said, “There is no technical or operational reason preventing the restart of oil transit. It’s therefore obvious that Ukraine’s decision is purely political, an attempt to pressure Hungary in coordination with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition. We will not give in to blackmail. ”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Viktor Orbán “demonizes Ukraine for political gain inside Hungary” and demanded that Budapest stop dragging Ukraine into Hungary’s domestic politics. Sybiha also said Hungary and Slovakia should “send their concerns to the Kremlin. ”
Broader energy stance and political timing
Kyiv and its allies have long called for European countries to wean off Russian oil; most have done so, the context notes, with the exception of Hungary and Slovakia. Hungary holds a general election in April, and Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party is described as lagging behind in the polls. Some in Brussels see the oil dispute and the timing of Budapest’s decision as intertwined with Hungary’s domestic politics.
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