Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rejected an emotional plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to supply Ukraine with arms and back sanctions against Russia’s energy sector, the Associated Press reported.
In a video circulated on social media today, Orban said Zelenskiy’s demands were “contrary to Hungary’s interests” and explained that imposing sanctions on Russia’s energy sector would slow down the Hungarian economy and then speed it up.
Hungary’s reaction was in response to Zelenskiy’s speech to European leaders yesterday, in which the Ukrainian leader at one point directly addressed Orban, who is considered Vladimir Putin’s closest friend in the European Union. “Listen, Victor, do you know what is happening in Mariupol?” Zelensky asked and continued: “You have to decide which side you are on.”
Hungary is the only EU country bordering Ukraine that refused to supply weapons to Kiev and refused to transport weapons to Ukraine through its territory.
Orban also said that 85% of gas and more than 60% of oil comes to Hungary from Russia and that blocking Russian energy exports would make Hungarian citizens “pay for the war.”