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FM: Hungary refuses to discuss gas embargo against Russia

The foreign minister said that in addition to the serious security threat to Europe posed by the war in Ukraine, ensuring energy and economic security also presented a challenge.

The foreign minister said Hungary's government refuses to even discuss the possibility of introducing a gas embargo against Russia.

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in parliament that in addition to the serious security threat to Europe posed by the war in Ukraine, ensuring energy and economic security also presented a challenge. The question of whether Europe would have a sufficient supply of energy was first raised at the end of last year, “and this was the first time that the main issue wasn’t pricing” but rather volume, the minister said. “Unfortunately, we’re again in a similarly difficult situation” because gas deliveries from Russia to Europe have fallen significantly, and the rate at which the price of natural gas is rising “could bring European economies to their knees”, Minister Szijjártó said. Meanwhile, the European Union has failed to steer the conflict towards a resolution, while Europe’s competitiveness has fallen considerably in the recent period, he added.

Photo credit: MTI