EU cannot become Budapest's hostage, Budrys says amid Hungary's Russia sanction threat

VILNIUS – The European Union cannot become Budapest's hostage, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says, as Budapest threatens to block the latest EU sanctions against Russia.

"We cannot become hostage to one country (...). While other countries are raising specific questions related to the future activities of their companies, Hungary is simply blocking the sanctions on principle," the minister told Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT on Monday ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sunday that Budapest would block sanctions if Ukraine did not open the main oil pipeline supplying oil to Hungary.

Ukrainian authorities say the Druzhba pipeline, which runs from Russia through its territory to Slovakia and Hungary, was closed after it was damaged during a Russian attack in January.

According to Budrys, the pipeline is not blocked, but was damaged by Russian forces and is currently being repaired.

He also assured that southern European countries have repeatedly offered various alternatives to ensure oil supplies to Hungary.

"That's not good enough for Hungary. They want their Russian oil, which is cheap, cool, and maybe smells better than other oil, and that's it. I see a lot of politics here," Lithuania's top diplomat said.

In his words, in the near future, the EU should look for means of pressure that could manifest themselves through financing, funds from the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, and seek a compromise in this way.

"In the longer term, I think we need to decide whether we really need 27 (EU member states to make decisions – BNS). (...) We need (members – BNS) where we can unanimously see the picture of threats. And it is clear that we do not see it here, which is a fundamental question for me. Do we really all have to be together in the European Union? If you don't like it, find another organization," he said.

Since Moscow started the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, almost all European countries have significantly reduced or completely stopped importing Russian energy. However, Hungary, a member of the EU and NATO, has maintained and even increased its supply of Russian oil and gas.

In early February, the EU proposed new sanctions against Russia, targeting the banking and energy sectors. This would be the 20th package of sanctions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

The European Commission also plans to ban the export of all machine tools and radio equipment to countries where there is a high risk that these products will be re-exported to Russia.

According to Budrys, as is often the case, Vilnius believes that the sanctions are too weak.

"We expected (Russian nuclear energy agency – BNS) Rosatom, (...) we expected (Russian oil giant – BNS) Lukoil, (...) to be on the list. We hoped to have more ambitious sanctions on the financial sector, there is a long list," he said.

For the reasons already mentioned, Budapest is also threatening to veto the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.

Hungary has the tools and is manipulating them, the Lithuanian foreign minister said. However, he hopes that the EC will find arguments to persuade Budapest.

"Push a little, give a little, but we have to close this market. And this is where everyone's great expectation lies, because if every decision requires some kind of carrot to be handed out to everyone in order to get them to agree on common security interests, then what do we need the European Union for?" he said.