Hungary steps back from electricity supply threats to Ukraine, citing concern for Hungarians in Zakarpattia
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has said that "special caution" is needed regarding electricity supplies to Ukraine in order not to harm ethnic Hungarians living in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Source: Szijjártó in a video on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Szijjártó recorded the video following a government energy council meeting held on Sunday to discuss the suspension of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.
Quote: "Today we also considered issues related to electricity supplies. Nearly half of Ukraine's electricity imports come from Hungary. However, we concluded that we must act with special caution in this matter, as Hungarians also live on the other side of the border, and stopping electricity exports would primarily affect Zakarpattia, creating particular problems, challenges and suffering for the families living there."
Details: Szijjártó added that "our dispute is not with the people living in Ukraine, not with the families living in Ukraine. Our dispute is with the Ukrainian state, with the Ukrainian government, with President Zelenskyy."
Background:
- Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline is not restored.
- On Sunday, Szijjártó also said that Budapest will block the adoption of the European Union's 20th package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, claiming that Ukraine is deliberately not repairing the Druzhba oil pipeline.
- Hungary has also announced a suspension of diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine and blocked a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine.
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