Published 2 months ago • loading... • Updated 2 months ago
Hungary’s Orbán threatens further anti-Ukraine measures over Russian oil dispute
Hungary accuses Ukraine of an oil blockade and vows to block EU aid until Russian oil shipments via Druzhba pipeline resume, affecting supplies since January, officials said.
On Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán raised the prospect of further actions against Ukraine to force the resumption of Russian oil deliveries stalled to Hungary and Slovakia since January.
Tensions escalated into a bitter feud following the January interruption of the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine said resulted from a Russian drone strike that halted oil shipments to both countries.
Orbán claimed Ukraine created an "oil blockade" and threatened to veto the European Union's seven-year budget, noting that 40% of Ukraine's electricity supply transits through Hungary.
European Union leaders criticized Orbán on Thursday for blocking a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, accusing him of holding up critical aid and undermining decision-making for election gains.
Ahead of the April 12 election, Orbán has amplified an anti-Ukraine campaign portraying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as existential threats to Hungary.