Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, arriving at the European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels on 19 March, told reporters that he would not support any decision Ukraine needs until oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are resumed, Radio Liberty’s correspondent reports.
“We are ready to support Ukraine when we get our oil, which they have blocked. Until then, no decision favourable to Ukraine will be supported by Hungary,” Orban said.
To the journalists’ remark that Ukraine is going to repair the Druzhba, the head of the Hungarian government replied, “these are fairy tales”.
“They say they will repair it. We are waiting for oil. Everything else is fairy tales. We believe only the facts. The oil must come to Hungary and then a new phase will begin. Until then, we cannot support any pro-Ukrainian proposal. Sorry, there is no other option,” Orban said.
The Hungarian prime minister said oil supplies were an existential issue for his country.
“Without this oil, all households and companies in Hungary will go bankrupt. This is not a joke or a political game. Zelensky must realise that this is not a game – it is absolutely vital for Hungarians,” Orban said.
Earlier, European Council President António Costa announced the participation of the Ukrainian president in the official invitation of EU leaders to the summit in Brussels on 19-20 March. According to the means, Volodymyr Zelensky will speak at the beginning of the EU leaders’ discussion on Ukraine.
On the eve of the EU summit in Brussels, Western diplomats speaking to Radio Liberty were increasingly sceptical about the chances of Hungary unblocking a 90bn-euro loan for Ukraine. Despite intensive negotiations and pressure from the EU leadership, there are no signals of a change in Budapest’s position.
Slovakia and Hungary are blocking the approval of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and a multi-billion euro loan to Ukraine, which EU leaders agreed on at a summit in December. The two countries promise to maintain their veto until the transport of Russian raw materials through the Druzhba oil pipeline is resumed.