Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rejected an emotional request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to supply Ukraine with weapons and support sanctions against Russia’s energy sector, according to the Associated Press.
In a video posted on social media today, Orban said Zelensky’s demands were “against Hungary’s interests” and explained that imposing sanctions on Russia’s energy sector would slow Hungary’s economy and then halt it quickly.
PM Orbán made it clear in a video conference with @eucopresident that HU stands by Ukraine and have supported every steps taken so far, but is opposed to the idea of sending soldiers and weapons outside the territory of NATO, and extending sanctions to imports of Russian gas&oil. pic.twitter.com/Qi4ZAw0Mt7
— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) March 22, 2022
Hungary’s reaction was in response to Zelensky’s speech to European leaders yesterday, in which the Ukrainian leader at one point addressed Orban, who is considered Vladimir Putin’s closest friend in the European Union. “Listen to me, Victor, do you know what’s going on in Mariupol?” Zelensky asked, continuing, “You have to decide whose side you’re on.”
Hungary is the only EU country bordering Ukraine that does not want to supply arms to Kyiv and refuses to allow arms supplies to Ukraine through its territory.
Orbán also said that Hungary gets 85 percent of its gas and more than 60 percent of its oil from Russia, and that blocking Russian energy exports will force Hungarian citizens to “pay for the war.”