By SCM Foreign Affairs Correspondent
HUNGARY has threatened to spark a massive European crisis on Monday by blocking a major new wave of sanctions against Vladimir Putin.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Brussels, Budapest’s firebrand Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed he will veto the EU’s 20th sanctions package unless Ukraine reopens the taps on a vital oil pipeline.
The hardline stance comes as a bitter “energy war” erupts between the two neighbors, leaving the EU’s united front against the Kremlin in tatters.
Taking to social media to draw a line in the sand, Mr. Szijjarto fumed that Hungary is being “blackmailed” by Kyiv.
He vowed to hold the entire 20th sanctions package hostage until Ukraine resumes the transit of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia via t
”We will block the 20th anti-Russian sanctions package on Monday until Ukraine resumes oil transit,” he declared, accusing Kyiv of playing politics with his country’s energy security.
The row follows a series of mysterious disruptions to the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline, which supplies landlocked Hungary and Slovakia with the Russian oil they still rely on.
Supplies were halted on January 27 following reports of a drone strike on the pipeline within Ukrainian territory.
While Kyiv blames Russian aggression for the damage, Budapest claims the repairs are finished and that Ukraine is intentionally keeping the taps shut to punish Hungary for its “pro-Russia” stance.
Hungary and its ally Slovakia have already retaliated by halting diesel and electricity exports to Ukraine, leaving the war-torn nation facing its own energy blackouts.
The timing couldn’t be worse for EU bosses. The 20th sanctions package—designed to hit Putin’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers—was supposed to be a show of strength ahead of the fourth anniversary of the invasion.
But with EU law requiring a unanimous vote, Victor Orban’s government holds the “Kill Switch.”
European diplomats are now scrambling for a last-minute deal to prevent the summit from collapsing into a public brawl that would give the Kremlin a PR victory.
One Brussels insider warned: “If this isn’t settled by Monday morning, the 20th package is dead in the water.”
This new round of EU sanctions targets the “shadow fleet” (uninsured tankers used by Russia to bypass price caps) and seeks to ban Russian metal imports worth hundreds of millions.
Hungary and Slovakia currently hold special EU exemptions allowing them to import Russian oil via pipeline because they are landlocked and cannot easily receive sea shipments.
Slovakia has joined Hungary’s hardline stance, with PM Robert Fico threatening to cut off emergency electricity to Ukraine’s power grid if the oil doesn’t flow by Monday.
