Hungary Urges EU to Press Ukraine on Gas Transit

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is urging the European Union to pressure Ukraine to resume the transit of Russian gas to Europe, linking this demand to the upcoming renewal of sanctions against Russia. He criticized the current sanctions, claiming they have caused Hungary financial losses of €19 billion, and stated that Hungary should not bear the costs of supporting Ukraine while facing energy supply issues. Orbán asserted that it would take just a phone call from EU leaders to facilitate the reopening of gas routes, which Ukraine halted after a contract expired. The EU's decision on sanctions requires unanimous agreement among its 27 member states, and Hungary has not yet confirmed its position on the renewal. With EU foreign ministers set to meet soon, Orbán's demands could complicate the bloc's unified approach, especially as Hungary remains highly reliant on Russian energy supplies. This situation reflects ongoing tensions within the EU regarding energy security and political alignments in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.