Hungary Gets Energy Security Guarantees from EU
The European Union has given Hungary the “requested guarantees” regarding its energy security concerns. This was announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on January 27.
Szijjarto said that the European Commission is committed to protecting natural gas and oil pipelines that supply EU member states. He added that the Commission will also ask Ukraine to keep transporting oil through its territory.
This development comes after Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to veto the extension of EU sanctions on Russia unless Ukraine resumes Russian gas transit through its territory. Orban wants this condition met before voting on the renewal of sanctions against Russia.
The current deadline for renewing these sanctions is January 31, and a unanimous decision by all 27 EU countries is required for their extension.
EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said that the integrity of energy infrastructure supplying EU member states is essential for the entire bloc’s security. She added that ending Russian gas transit to Ukraine deprives Moscow of revenue used to finance its war.
Hungary has been a vocal critic and delayed sanctions against Russia, with Orban often being referred to as one of the most Russia-friendly leaders in the EU.