Hungarian government "outraged" over accusations of using the Russian narrative on EU sanctions – Szijjártó

Hungary's government is outraged by and strongly rejects accusations that it is using the Russian narrative on EU sanctions by saying that "the sanctions are not working", Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Brussels on Monday.

Speaking during a break in the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Szijjártó said that "an ideological debate" had just taken place about the Russian-Ukrainian war, which was "overcharged with emotions, with little room left for common sense and rationality". He reiterated the Hungarian government's position that the sanctions "have not fulfilled the least of the hopes placed in them, as they have not helped to bring the war to an end any sooner".

He added that in Monday's debate there were those who “disputed the existence of this argument”, and highlighted that in the debate on a possible ninth sanctions package

"some went as far as saying that those who talk about sanctions not working are using the Russian narrative".

"This is outrageous, and should be rejected in the strongest possible terms," the Foreign Minister reacted. According to HVG.hu, Szijjártó later mentioned that the person in question was Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

"Others may not understand this, but we are not interested in what the Russians think about what we say. Nor do we care what Brussels thinks about what we say and think. We are interested in one thing: to be able to look at all existing issues through the lens of our own national interests. We must have two feet on the ground (...) It must be recognized that the sanctions are extremely damaging to the functioning of the European economy," Szijjártó said, adding that he believes that the parties involved in the war should talk to each other, and should do so as soon as possible.

Regarding the planned financial assistance programme for Ukraine, Szijjártó reiterated that Hungary is ready to continue supporting Kyiv, but only on a bilateral basis, and will not consent to a joint European loan. "We started supporting Ukraine much earlier than those who now proudly present themselves in Europe as Ukraine's best friends," he said.

Responding to a question, he described the resolution in which the German federal parliament last week backed a €7.5 billion cut in EU funding to Hungary over corruption and rule of law concerns as "political blackmail".

(MTI)