BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n on Friday raised the prospect of further actions his government could take against Ukraine to force the resumption of Russian oil deliveries that have been stalled to Hungary and Slovakia since January.
Speaking to media in Brussels a day after he to Ukraine, Orb谩n said he and his government have 鈥渁 lot of cards in our hands鈥� beyond holding up the financial aid Kyiv needs to equip its armed forces and keep its economy running.
鈥淲e have other tools as well,鈥� he said. 鈥淔orty percent of Ukraine鈥檚 electricity supply goes through Hungary, we haven鈥檛 touched that yet. (The EU) constantly wants to introduce new sanctions (against Russia). That will require unanimity, and we will not give it.鈥�
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have escalated in recent weeks into a over Hungary鈥檚 access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory.
Oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline were interrupted after what Ukraine said was a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline鈥檚 infrastructure. Hungary鈥檚 government has accused Ukraine of deliberately creating an 鈥渙il blockade鈥� to hold up supplies of Russian crude, and has promised to block all EU measures to assist Kyiv until shipments resume.
Both led by prime ministers with cordial relations with the Kremlin, Hungary and Slovakia are the only EU countries to continue importing Russian oil.
In an effort to persuade Orb谩n to lift his block on the loan, EU officials on Tuesday said the bloc had and funding to repair the pipeline, an offer Kyiv accepted.
On Friday, Orb谩n also threatened to veto the EU鈥檚 next seven-year budget if it includes financial aid for Ukraine, adding: 鈥淲e have a lot of cards in our hands, so I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 worth picking a fight with Hungary.鈥�
EU leaders on Thursday criticized Orb谩n over his blocking of the loan for Ukraine, accusing him of holding up critical aid and undermining EU decision-making in an effort to win an election at home.
As Orb谩n faces what is expected to be the tightest election of his career on April 12, he has increasingly relied on a broad portraying the country鈥檚 president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as an existential threat to Hungary.
He has alleged that the Ukrainian leader, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, wants to drag Hungary into , now in its fifth year, and has argued that his reelection is the only guarantee of peace and security.
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