Hungary rejected, on Wednesday, the European Union’s proposal to impose a gradual embargo on Russian oil “in its current form”, considering that this would “totally destroy” the security of its energy supplies.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, in a video message on Facebook, said the proposal “cannot be supported in its current form, and with all responsibility we cannot vote for it.”
The EU proposal would phase out Russian crude over the next six months and refined fuel by the end of this year, but Hungary and Slovakia, both heavily dependent on Russian oil exports, will extend their purchases until the end of 2023.
But Sjarto stressed that this one-year period is not enough. He said that “delivery of Russian oil, essential for Hungary’s operation, will be prevented from the end of next year.”
The ambassadors of the 27 European Union countries met on Wednesday to review the plan, which will need unanimous approval before it takes effect.
Szijjarto indicated that Budapest would support the proposal, if crude oil, delivered through pipelines, was excluded from the European embargo.
“It is not a matter of lack of political will, intent or timing, but simply a physical, geographical and infrastructure reality,” he explained.
Hungary is among the largest economies in Europe, with a population of regarding 10 million.
In another development, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that a gradual European ban on Russian oil imports might lead to “disruptions” in supplies and higher prices, but he supported the project as a necessary step to punish Moscow.
“I have said several times that we cannot guarantee in this situation that there will be no disturbances, especially regional ones,” he told reporters following a government meeting, adding that Berlin supports the bloc’s move in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Habek referred in particular to the “BCK” refinery in the city of Shevit in the east of the country, considering that it may be the most affected by this; It supplies regarding 90% of the oil consumed in Berlin and the surrounding area, including Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport.
The Kremlin’s oil giant Rosneft is a major contributor to the site, a complex situation that Habek said “must be resolved politically”.
Habeck indicated that the gradual implementation of the embargo would contribute to alleviating the shock to the oil markets.
On the other hand, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba considered that European Union countries that would reject the Russian oil embargo proposal would be “complicit” in war crimes.
“If any country in Europe continues to oppose an embargo on Russian oil, there will be good reason to say that this country is complicit in the crimes committed by Russia on the territory of Ukraine,” he added in statements on social media.