Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday that Hungary and Slovakia are opposing the EU’s proposed 18th package of sanctions against Russia, citing concerns over energy security and objections to Brussels’ push to ban Russian gas and oil imports.
Szijjártó first announced the news on social media, later confirming it at a press conference. According to him, Brussels is pushing for what he described as the toughest and most comprehensive sanctions package to date, with a particular focus on targeting Russia’s energy sector.
“Together with Slovakia, we have prevented the adoption of the sanctions package,” he said at the press conference, adding that Brussels is trying to ban member states from purchasing cheap Russian gas and oil.
The European Commission’s latest sanctions proposal reportedly includes lowering the price cap on seaborne Russian crude oil to $45 per barrel, and targets the use of Nord Stream pipeline infrastructure, Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, and several Russian banks.
Both countries had previously voiced concerns. They both still rely on imports of Russian gas and oil and maintain warm relations with Moscow, making them outliers within the EU’s largely united front on sanctions.
According to diplomatic sources cited by the ČTK news agency, there is still hope that opposition from both countries may be resolved during the two-day EU summit beginning on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Slovak PM Robert Fico said he would seek to postpone the sanctions vote until concerns about Russian gas imports into the EU are addressed.
On Sunday evening, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also urged the EU to withdraw the proposed ban on Russian gas and oil, citing the risk of rising energy prices in the wake of US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
(cs, aw)