Orbán: EU’s planned sanctions on Russian oil imports ‘like nuclear bomb’
The European Union’s proposal on phasing out imports of Russian crude oil is “unacceptable”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday, adding it was equivalent to “dropping a nuclear bomb on the Hungarian economy”.
In a regular interview with public broadcaster Kossuth Rádió, the prime minister said EU member states had agreed earlier that the bloc should only take steps that take into consideration the different energy mixes of member states and their sovereign right to decide on them. However, the president of the European Commission “either willingly or unwillingly, attacked this hard-fought European unity”, he added.
While countries with sea ports can have energy resources delivered to them by ships, landlocked countries are wholly dependent on pipelines,
he said. “The pipeline leading to Hungary starts in Russia … that is a given,” he said. Hungary cannot accept proposals ignoring that fact, he said.
Orbán said the EU proposal to phase out Russian oil imports was equivalent to “dropping a nuclear bomb on the Hungarian economy”, adding that its approval would “be the end of the utility price caps”.
Petrol prices could reach 700 forints (EUR 1.80) per litre and diesel could cost up to 800 forints,
he said.
“The battle I am fighting now is a battle to protect Hungary’s utility price caps,” Orbán said. Replacing Russian oil imports would take years and cost several hundreds of millions of forints, while changes to Hungary’s energy transmission system would cost thousands of billions of forints, the prime minister said.
The investments to make those changes would take up to five years,
he said. While the EU has allocated money to funding the developments, “they are yet to give us that money, and we cannot start the works until that arrives”, unless Hungary takes out loans form the market to cover the costs, he said. At the same time, a costly investment bringing results in 4-5 years may not “make sense” as the root of all problems, the war in Ukraine, “is here now”, he said.
Hungary will be happy to discuss proposals in line with Hungarian interests,
he said. The current one, however, “creates a problem for Hungary and makes no attempt to solve it”, he said. The current proposal may create a situation where Hungary runs out of fuel and other oil products important for its industry, Orbán warned. Hungary will not accept such a proposal.
“I have sent this back to President [Ursula von der Leyen] to be reworked, we are now waiting for the new proposal,”
he said.
Read alsoRussia is preparing a provocation against Hungary, Ukrainian military expert says
Source: MTI
We used our independent and sovereign right to fully commit to cheap oil, gas and nuclear power from Russia. So – apparently this was all deemed such a remote scenario that there is zero (0) plan – other than ask for cash from the Brussels Bureaucrats and Soros Lapdogs.
Surprise, surprise: we STILL sign up for Paks II – committing to at least 50 more years of Rosatom.
Our politicians have willingly committed us still to to Russia’s benevolence.
Mr. Putin: “Check and Check Mate, Viktor – now, go out to bat for us.” , Swing for the fences, Mr. Orbán !
How tactful to use that analogy when Russia has been threatening through their state controlled media to use nuclear weapons on against European nations! It just goes to show that Orbán is what is known as a ‘bunkó paraszt’ in Hungary. A thick peasant, for non Hungarian speakers.
Should never have made us so dependent on Russian gas. The question is, what has been agreed with Putin!? What has made us so dependent on Russia. Out of all the other EU countries and we seem to be the country most under Putin’s thumb. Orban’s fawning over Putin is more than just getting us cheap gas. Don’t point fingers, come up with excuses, or start scaremongering on possible price rises. Instead, start to make changes. We know it can’t happen overnight, but make a start now. He has no one to blame but himself, the corruption and the get rich quick schemes for his cronies. There are other countries that can supply gas. The money will be there, it’s just out of sight to the rest of us.
Hungarys economy is ALREADY a time BOMB waiting to HAPPEN.
Victor Orbans excuse AGAIN – continues to exhibit, the WEDGED position, he and his Government have placed Hungary factually in, with RELATIONSHIP – in the Russian War plan.
Germany – is an example, who have made fast track head roads into there Gas supply arrangement with Russia.
Hungary – if we don’t – with Truth & FACT – commence a SEPARATION, the brand name HUNGARY – will continue to be Mortality – Scared and Damaged.
If this occurs – in the LEGACY left by Victor Orban, as Prime Minister of Hungary – the Fidesz Party – it will rest high on the list, of the DISASTERS in his time as Prime Minister of Hungary – that HE is/was RESPONSIBLE.
Who are the FRIENDS of Hungary ?
THe list excluding Russia at War and China in the course to experience a Cataclysmic Economic & Financial Disaster through the Novel Corona Virus – who are FRIENDS of Hungary ?
They are NOT – the European Union nor NATO nor Great Britain nor the United States of America.
Who are the FRIENDS of Hungary – that friendships just continue to be DESTROYED – by the position agenda this present Government, under the Leadership of Victor Orban – Fidesz Party – HAVE DRIVEN us into.
God created “Veto”. Hungary should save EU countries economies, and use its veto.
@marievontheresa, ‘God’ created Canada. Thank ‘god’ you live there, not here in Hungary.