No threats to Hungary's energy security but "countermeasures" against Ukraine planned, Orbán says

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said there are no threats to his country's energy security due to a halt in oil supplies through the Druzhba oil pipeline but he has announced three "countermeasures" against Ukraine.

Source: Viktor Orbán, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Orbán said he convened the National Energy Security Council due to alleged "blackmail from Ukraine".

He claimed that Kyiv's actions regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline have created risks for the country's energy supply.

"We have eliminated this danger, made appropriate decisions, so today there is no threat to the security of supply in Hungary. Uninterrupted, normal functioning of the country is ensured," Orbán said.

Despite this he said that the government will take three "countermeasures" against Ukraine. Hungary will not resume exports of diesel fuel to Ukraine until it receives oil through Ukrainian territory. Budapest is officially refusing to approve the allocation of a military loan to Ukraine that was previously agreed in Brussels. Hungary will also block the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Orbán stressed that Budapest will act "carefully" on issues of energy supply on which Ukraine depends on Hungary because ethnic Hungarians live on the other side of the border.

"If oil transportation is restored then normal relations will be restored," Orbán said.

Background: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Ukraine rejects and condemns ultimatums and blackmail from the leadership of the governments of Hungary and Slovakia over the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.

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