Hungarian PM Orban Urges EU to Lift Sanctions on Russian Oil and Gas Amid Price Hikes

Budapest. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the European Union on Monday to lift sanctions on Russian oil and gas to cope with rising prices caused by the war in the Middle East.

The price of oil has surpassed $100 per barrel for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, as Iran carries out retaliatory attacks against Gulf nations that produce crude oil.

Orban, the Kremlin's closest ally in the EU, has repeatedly criticized the sanctions imposed on Russia, using his veto power to demand exemptions for Hungary and to reduce European aid for Ukraine.

The Hungarian nationalist leader stated in a video published on Facebook, "We must review and suspend all sanctions imposed on Russian energy across Europe. I have initiated this by writing a letter today to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen."

He claimed that the disruption in Russian oil supply, along with Hungary's growing dispute with neighboring Ukraine, has become a 'serious threat' to the EU.

Hungary has accused neighboring Slovakia of deliberately delaying the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline, which pumps Russian oil to the two landlocked EU member states, a claim Kyiv disputes, stating it was damaged by the Russian invasion in January.

Orban has been blocking the EU's 90 billion euro ($106 billion) aid package to the war-torn country and is imposing a new round of sanctions on Moscow over the 'Ukrainian oil blockade.'

The nationalist leader recently escalated political attacks against Ukraine ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12.

Tensions in relations were further heightened over the weekend after Hungary seized $80 million in cash and nine gold bars being transported from Austria, following the arrest of seven employees of the Ukrainian National Bank.