European embargo on Russian oil: Hungary will not vote for it “in its current form”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Brussels in February 2020. AFP - FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS

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3 mins

A total embargo on Russian oil: this is what the President of the European Commission, Ursula Van der Leyen, proposed on Wednesday May 4.

Europeans would have six months to give up crude and eight months to do without petroleum products.

This is the sixth sanctions package aimed at trying to cut off Moscow's funding of the war in Ukraine.

But some European states refuse to give it their blank check.

This is the case of Hungary, whose economy is highly dependent on Russian oil.

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No question for Hungary to vote for the embargo.

The government of Viktor Orbán is straight in his boots.

“ 

This is a crucial question for us;

impossible to make our economy work without Russian oil

 ”, insists the Minister of Foreign Affairs, while unanimity is required to adopt such a measure.

In a video message

posted on Facebook

, the head of diplomacy Péter Szijjártó explains that " 

in its current form

 ", such a European measure would " 

completely destroy the energy security

 " of his country.

“ 

It is not a question of lack of political will or timetable, but simply the physical, geographical and infrastructure reality,

 ” he insists.

►Also listen: EU tightens sanctions against Russia

: "

The idea is to dry up financial flows

"

Hungary is very dependent: in addition to the fact that 85% of the gas used in this country comes from Russia, 65% of its oil also comes from Russia.

In comparison, Germany buys only 25% of its black gold in Moscow, recalls our correspondent in Budapest,

Florence La Bruyère

.

The European proposal was transmitted on Wednesday night to the Member States.

A derogation is proposed to allow Hungary, but also Slovakia, landlocked, to extend their purchases from Russia for a time, for lack of connections with the rest of the EU.

But this one-year period is not enough, insists Mr. Szijjártó.

It is through the Friendship Pipeline – the Druzhba pipeline – that Russian oil arrives in Hungary.

It will be difficult for this small country to diversify its energy supply in the time required by the European Commission.

This could take three to five years, according to the Hungarian government.

►Great Report: War in Ukraine, when Viktor Orbán's Hungary opens up to refugees

The Orbán team, which has forged stronger ties with Moscow, wants to show its public opinion that it remains inflexible, in the face of Brussels.

You can't drive a car or heat a house with ideology, says the Hungarian government spokesman, who often accuses Brussels of lacking pragmatism.

The Commission's objective would be for this embargo to come into force on May 9, for the 72nd Europe Day, which coincides with the day of the Russian victory over Nazi Germany.

It would be a “ 

ban on all Russian oil, crude and refined, transported by sea and by pipeline

 ”, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

For its part, kyiv puts pressure on the Europeans.

EU member countries that refuse to put in place this embargo on Russian oil will be “ 

accomplices 

” in war crimes, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba said on Wednesday in a

video posted on Twitter

.

With agencies

© RFI

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  • Hungary

  • Russia

  • Oil

  • Ukraine

  • European Union

  • Ursula von der Leyen

  • Victor Orban