Hungary and Slovakia vetoed the European Union’s proposed 18th sanctions package against Russia on Monday, June 23rd, blocking a plan that would have banned member states from importing Russian oil and gas.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó explained on X (formerly Twitter) that the proposed sanctions would “undermine Hungary’s energy security” and violate a previous EU agreement that had granted Budapest an exemption from the Russian oil ban.
As Brussels continues to push ahead with its REPowerEU energy strategy, critics say the rushed, ideologically driven transition away from Russian energy is proving unrealistic and economically harmful. By rejecting the latest sanctions package, Hungary and Slovakia have pushed back against what they see as a threat to their national sovereignty.
