Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced Monday that Hungary and Slovakia have jointly blocked the adoption of the European Union’s 18th sanctions package, aimed at further punishing Russia. The decision, he said, was a direct response to Brussels’ proposal to ban the import of cheap Russian oil and gas—a move that, according to Szijjártó, would severely harm Hungary’s energy security and potentially double or triple utility costs for households.
Speaking after the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Szijjártó criticized the growing ‘war atmosphere’ among EU leaders, describing intense pressure to expand arms shipments to Ukraine, provide further financial aid, and accelerate the country’s EU accession. He highlighted that Ukraine’s foreign minister personally demanded broader sanctions, more money, and long-range weapons during the meeting.
‘We resisted all of it,’ said Szijjártó. ‘Just this year, the EU has sent the equivalent of 10 trillion forints to Ukraine. And now they’re saying it’s not enough. We made it clear that we will not allow Hungarian taxpayers’ money to be sent to Ukraine, nor will we support new arms deliveries or military operations.’
The minister emphasized that the blocked sanctions package would have disproportionately impacted the energy sector, directly threatening Hungary’s ability to maintain affordable energy imports. He criticized the EU’s attempt to override a 2022 unanimous agreement granting Hungary and Slovakia exemptions from oil import bans, calling it a blatant violation of EU law.
‘The European Commission’s hypocrisy is staggering’
Szijjártó also warned against plans to limit gas imports, which currently face no formal restrictions. He accused the European Commission of bypassing the principle of unanimity and pursuing rule changes behind member states’ backs.
‘The European Commission’s hypocrisy is staggering,’ he said. ‘While they scrutinize every Hungarian law, they now break EU rules themselves by trying to revoke exemptions agreed by all member states.’
He pointed to a global energy crisis exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East—including threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for 20–25 per cent of the world’s oil and gas shipments—as a reason for restraint.
‘If ever there was a time for Brussels to abandon its misguided energy policies, it is now’
‘If ever there was a time for Brussels to abandon its misguided energy policies, it is now. Even mentioning terms like REPowerEU or new energy bans could push the EU into an energy supply catastrophe,’ Szijjártó concluded.
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