Orban’s new ‘blockade’ on Russian oil embargo

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described an agreement on imposing a European embargo on Russian oil in the coming days as “extremely unlikely” in a letter to European Council President Charles Michel.

According to Reuters, the Hungarian leader points out that his country is not able to agree with the proposed EU sanctions on Russia, until all outstanding issues are resolved.

In this context, Victor Orban adds in his letter, dated yesterday, that it would be “counterproductive” to discuss the sixth package of sanctions at the forthcoming 27-nation Summit “in the absence of consensus”.

It is noted that the Summit is scheduled for May 30 and 31.

It is recalled that the European Commission proposed this month the imposition of new sanctions against Russia, but these require the unanimous support of all 27 EU member states and Hungary is blocking them.

In the letter, Orban reiterated his position that “solutions must precede sanctions.” “Given the seriousness of the issues that remain open, it is very unlikely that a comprehensive solution will be found before the special session of the European Council on 30-31 May,” he said. “I’m convinced that a debate at the leadership level on the sanctions package without consent would be counterproductive.”

Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian oil, has said it will need about 750m euros in short-term investment to upgrade its refineries and expand a pipeline carrying oil from Croatia.

The Hungarian government also says that the long-term independence of its economy from Russian oil could cost up to 15-18 billion euros.

The Commission last week offered up to 2 billion euros in support to countries that do not have access to the sea and are dependent on Russian supplies – Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They were also offered a longer transition period.

However, the Hungarian Prime Minister said that there were “encouraging messages” from the European Commission that the EU REPowerEU project would provide a satisfactory solution to Hungary’s problems, but added that “the plan presented on 18 May does not address the serious concerns we have raised “.

Hungary remains committed to continuing the talks, he added.

The oil embargo, already imposed by the United States and Britain, is widely seen as the best way to reduce Russia’s financial resources and funding for the war in Ukraine. The EU has currently banned imports of Russian coal.

With information from ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ