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Speaking on state radio, Orbán said that Ukraine's decision to
cease transiting Russian gas into Central Europe through the
Brotherhood pipeline had forced Hungary to turn to alternative
routes, which raised energy prices.
Meanwhile, he claimed EU sanctions against Russia for its war in
Ukraine had cost Hungary 19 billion euros ($20 billion) since
the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. He did
not cite how that sum was calculated.
“It’s no good that we pay for the economic consequences of
sanctions to help Ukraine while they turn around and mess with
us,” he said of Kyiv's decision to allow a prewar transit deal
with Russia to expire at the end of 2024.
Natural gas prices did spike at the beginning of the year
following the expiration of Ukraine's transit contract with
Russia, though an increase in liquefied natural gas shipments to
Europe has kept prices fluctuating.
As the EU prepares to renew sanctions on Moscow in the coming
week — which requires unanimity among all the 27-member bloc’s
leaders — Hungary has signaled it may use a veto to block the
penalties.
Orbán, considered to have the closest relationship with the
Kremlin of any other EU leader, has long been a vocal opponent
of EU sanctions against Moscow, though he has ultimately always
voted for them.
But following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump
last week, Orbán has publicly demanded an end to sanctions,
raising the possibility that he would veto the newest round
which must be decided by Jan. 31.
“The question of extending the sanctions is now on the agenda,
and I pulled the handbrake and asked European leaders to
understand that this cannot be continued," he said Friday. “It
is not possible that Hungary will pay the price of the sanctions
in this proportion.”
“I told my (EU) colleagues to please understand that we are
asking for help," he continued. "We ask that they be able to get
the Ukrainians to restore the gas pipeline.”
He also said he wanted guarantees that Ukraine would not stop
transiting Russian oil into Hungary, which he said would pose a
“serious risk” to the country.
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