Hungary, Slovakia block EU’s eighteenth sanctions package against Moscow
(MENAFN) Hungary and Slovakia have prevented the European Union from adopting its 18th sanctions package against Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced. The proposed measures, primarily aimed at cutting Russian energy imports, were seen by Budapest as a serious threat to its energy security.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Hungary has consistently opposed sanctions on Russian energy, stressing that these imports are crucial to its national interests. The country relies heavily on Russia for oil and gas through a long-term contract with Gazprom. Slovakia has expressed similar concerns.
After a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, Szijjarto stated, “we, together with Slovakia, prevented the adoption of the [18th] sanctions package today,” which would have largely focused on restricting Russia’s energy sector.
He explained that the veto was linked to a separate EU trade proposal aiming to phase out all Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. Szijjarto argued that such a move would gravely compromise Hungary’s energy supply and cause energy prices to soar for Hungarian consumers.
“We are not willing to have the Hungarian people pay the price for supporting Ukraine,” the minister asserted.
The referenced EU plan, unveiled by EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen and supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, faces opposition from Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and reportedly Italy. Since it is proposed as trade legislation, it can become law without unanimous approval, requiring only support from at least 15 of the EU’s 27 member states.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev criticized the EU’s approach, saying that the commission “seem obsessed – with making the EU as uncompetitive as possible on the global stage.”
Although pipeline gas imports from Russia have declined significantly since 2022, EU imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) have increased sharply. In 2024, Russia supplied 17.5% of the EU’s LNG, second only to the US at 45.3%, with France, Spain, and Belgium accounting for the majority of these imports, according to industry figures.
Russia continues to assert its reliability as an energy supplier, condemning Western sanctions and trade restrictions on its exports as violations of international law.
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