Hungarian International Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned a Ukrainian parliamentary invoice proposing the suspension of Russian oil and fuel transit by way of Ukraine throughout martial regulation, calling the measure "unacceptable" in a Fb put up on Jan. 8.
"The fact is that within the EU, member states collectively and unanimously determine on the admission of recent members. In different phrases, every member state has to vote in favor," Szijjarto mentioned, emphasizing Hungary's affect over Ukraine’s EU aspirations.
The invoice, submitted on Jan. 7 by ex-President Petro Poroshenko and members of the opposition European Solidarity social gathering, would ban Russian power transit by way of Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine had already determined to not renew its fuel transit cope with Russia past Dec. 31, 2024, however continues to permit Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline beneath a contract legitimate till the top of 2029.
Szijjarto argued that Ukraine has obligations beneath its EU affiliation settlement to assist the bloc's power safety by sustaining transportation routes.
"Every state has the sovereign proper to determine from the place and the way it buys the power assets it must perform, and nobody has the correct to impose dearer power assets on one other nation," he mentioned.
Hungary, together with Slovakia and Austria, stays closely reliant on Russian fuel bought by way of Gazprombank, which is beneath Western sanctions. Szijjarto claimed that closing power routes would hurt Hungary and violate EU expectations for Ukraine’s integration.
On Jan. 7, Szijjarto additionally accused Ukraine of exacerbating Europe’s financial challenges by halting the transit, allegedly resulting in an increase in fuel costs on the EU market.
Hungary has repeatedly drawn criticism for its Moscow-friendly stance, together with blocking sanctions towards Russia and support to Ukraine. Szijjarto, who continues to go to Russia in the course of the warfare, has set Hungary other than different EU nations in its method to the battle.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy