Hungarian Prime Minister likens Russia sanctions to nuclear bombs

“We are not satisfied with the imposition of sanctions against Russia“, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, northern Serbia on May 21.

Prime Minister Orban affirmed that Budapest does not agree with the decisions of the EU regarding sanctions against Russia. According to him, sanctions have the potential to damage Hungary, lead to rising prices and ruin the economy.

“Imposing sanctions against Russia is equivalent to an atomic bomb because it can lead to a situation where Hungary will not be able to feed our people,” he said, adding that recent developments could also leading to a new migration crisis.

Mr Orban also warned of a “difficult winter” ahead, due to “rapid inflation, soaring prices, outbreaks of famine in many parts of the world and a war in Ukraine”.

Prime Minister Orban, 58, often takes a neutral stance on the situation in Ukraine and once refused to allow Western weapons aid to Kiev to pass through Hungarian territory, even though the country is a member of both NATO and the EU. Orban is also considered the most pro-Russian leader of the 27 EU member states.

Prime Minister Orban said he did not want to see Hungary dragged into the Ukraine conflict. He also repeatedly warned the EU that the Russian oil embargo would be a red line for Budapest, as Hungary relies heavily on Russian energy imports.

Hungary earlier this month blocked a sixth EU package of sanctions against Russia, including an oil ban. Budapest declared that it could not ban Russian oil overnight because the country’s economy would suffer a heavy blow. Besides, the transition to alternative energy sources would be very expensive and Mr Orban urged the EU to come up with a solution for the country if it wanted them to support the new sanctions package.

The EU has made great efforts to convince Hungary to accept the plan to ban Russian oil, but so far has not been successful. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen went to Budapest last week to meet Prime Minister Orban to convince him to support the Russian oil ban, but in the end she could only say she had succeeded in “clarifying the issues”. ” with the Hungarian leader.

Huyen Le (According to RT, Ukraine Today)