Germany and Belgium on Wednesday sharply condemned the stance on Ukraine taken by the Hungarian government and called for Budapest’s block on new EU sanctions on Russia to be lifted.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Berlin it was shocking how Hungary was ignoring its own historical heritage, while his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prévot said it was unacceptable that Budapest was treating the Ukrainian population as hostages during a time of war for electoral purposes.
Hungary and Slovakia have justified their block on new sanctions on Russia on the grounds that they would no longer receive Russian oil through the Druzhba Pipeline that leads through Ukraine following a Russian attack, as Kiev would no longer repair it.
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Hungary has also vetoed a new EU loan to Ukraine amounting to €90 billion ($106 billion) of which €60 billion is destined for Ukraine’s military.
Wadephul rejected the link made by Budapest with the pipeline, saying that it would have to be repaired in any case. He expressed shock at the Hungarian attitude. “It betrays its own freedom struggle,” he said.
The German foreign minister rejected linking the issue to a fresh discussion over the use of Russian assets frozen in Europe, many of which are held by Belgian banks. “That issue has been conclusively cleared up,” he said.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speaks at a joint press conference with Belgian Foreign Minister Prevot (not pictured) in Berlin. Markus Lenhardt/dpa