The European Union recognizes"Setback" With Hungary obstructing the imposition of sanctions against Russia
Kaia Kallas, Foreign Policy Officer at The European Union that the twenty-seven EU countries failed to agree on imposing sanctions against Russia It is a setback after Hungary used its veto, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
She said after the meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday: "It is a setback and a message we did not want to send today, but the work continues".
Due to Hungary’s opposition, member states have failed to adopt the 20th sanctions package against Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Budapest announced its intention to obstruct the adoption of sanctions until Russian oil supplies resume via the pipeline that passes through Ukraine, and its Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Sunday: "Hungary will veto this decision, and this will only happen after Ukraine resumes allowing oil to pass to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline."
Blocking a loan to Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban confirmed this weekend that he would also block, for the same reasons, the approval of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine that EU leaders, including himself, agreed to in December, and Kallas promised this would be the case. "regrettable"
In a letter addressed to Orban published on Monday, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, which includes the heads of state and government of the EU countries, said: "Any decision taken by the European Council must be respected. When leaders reach a consensus, they become bound by this decision, and any violation of this commitment is an attack on the principle of cooperation based on loyalty."
Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to arrive in Kiev today, Tuesday, and will have the opportunity to discuss this issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Accusations of Hungary and Slovakia against Ukraine
Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of preventing the reopening of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which Kiev says was damaged by Russian air strikes, and Slovakia confirms that The pipeline has been repaired, but Kiev is keeping it closed to put pressure on Bratislava, whose government refuses to accelerate Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, and on Hungary, which is blocking the accession process currently being discussed in Brussels.
However, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot expressed confidence in the adoption of the 20th sanctions package, telling reporters: "The question is not whether it will be adopted or not – that is certain – but when, and from this standpoint, everyone must fulfill their obligations."
These sanctions target the Russian banking sector and the energy sector, including preventing the provision of maritime services to ships carrying Russian oil, such as maintenance and towing at ports and others.
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