‘No one should lecture us on our relations with Russia’, Budapest’s envoy to Germany says
Hungary doesn’t want to hear about its relations to Moscow, and it does not intend to do so. “radical sanctions” against Russia, the country’s ambassador to Germany Peter Gyorkos said in an interview with Die Welt on Monday.
The diplomat was asked to explain Hungary’s position on the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and why Budapest continued to go against the EU in many aspects relating to the conflict.
“No one should lecture us on our relations with Russia,”The diplomat insisted, and added that Hungary “knows from its history”Moscow should not be ensnared in a confrontation.
The ambassador noted that Hungary had supported all EU sanctions against Russia until the sixth round. This included energy restrictions. The ambassador said that Hungary depends on Russian supplies, and that it would take “time and money to reduce dependence,” which is why Budapest has so far refused to support “radical sanctions”It is against an “immediate halt to energy imports.”
Gyorkos also took issue with Kiev’s attempts to pressure Budapest to allow the transfer of weapons from Germany to Ukraine through its territory, stating that “Ukraine’s critical comments are irritating.”He observed that Hungary is a good example of this. “been doing a lot for Ukraine”even though it didn’t support movement of arms.
“Russia has made it clear that arms deliveries will become legitimate military targets,”Gyorkos insisted, saying that the Ukrainian side of border may be home to many Hungarians. “We can’t allow that. As simple as that,”The diplomat said so.
“Germany is doing a lot for Ukraine. The Germans have already paid a price for this and they will continue to pay for it,”The diplomat noted that Ukraine responded with continued force despite this. “unfair”Berlin critics
“It also bothers me when Ukraine criticizes us. Hungary does a lot for Ukraine,”Gyorkos was insistent, noting Hungary’s acceptance of over 750,000 refugees from Ukraine. Many have remained in Hungary.
Balazs Orban (a senior advisor to Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban) insisted last week on the EU’s decision not to target Russia with any new sanctions and instead focusing on other ways to reach peace via negotiations.
The politician, who is not related to the PM, insisted that any further sanctions on Russia would only serve to hurt the EU’s economy without having a significant effect on Moscow.
The prime minister warned earlier this month that Russia could be embargoed for a potential natural gas shortage. “ruin the whole European economy”He insists that only a peaceful resolution to conflict can curb inflation and protect the economy against further shocks.
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