Hungary aims to block EU assistance to Ukraine and the extension of sanctions against Russia, according to Szijjártó.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó made this statement in Washington, as quoted by the spokesperson for the Hungarian government, Zoltan Kovacs, on social media platform X.

Hungary will not support the EU's expansion of sanctions against Russians and Belarusians, as it believes that time should be given for peaceful negotiations between the United States and Russia.

Szijjártó criticized Brussels for its "hasty decision-making that hinders peace efforts and for violating its own commitments to energy security towards Hungary."

“We will not agree to an extension of sanctions on Monday — there is time until March 10,” the minister stated.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister pointed out that the European Commission allegedly failed to fulfill its promise to include Hungary in negotiations regarding the resumption of Ukrainian gas transit, instead inviting Slovakia and Ukraine.

Hungary is also opposed to the proposed EU package of 20 billion euros for Ukraine, which, according to the minister, aims to strengthen Kyiv's position in negotiations rather than facilitate peace.

“We will not support the spending of European taxpayers' money to continue the war,” Minister Szijjártó declared.

The Hungarian minister believes that Trump's election has shifted global politics towards peace, but "war-hungry European liberals are trying to block his efforts."

“We are closer than ever to a solution, as direct U.S.-Russian negotiations have revived hope for peace,” he summarized.

What preceded this?

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of putting the European Union in a difficult economic situation by halting the transit of Russian gas.

According to him, this was one of the reasons for the 20% increase in gas prices in the EU.

In response, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that the sole reason for the problems in the European energy market has always been Russia, as Moscow has used this as a weapon to blackmail European governments and undermine energy security.

Halting the transit of Russian gas

At 7 a.m. on January 1, Ukraine officially stopped the transportation of Russian gas through its territory. The European Union noted that it was prepared for this.

Therefore, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his country could stop supplying electricity to Ukraine, which is necessary during the energy system's deficit following Russian shelling. This is due to Kyiv not extending the transit of Russian gas through its territory.

Fico personally visited Kyiv to persuade the Ukrainian government to extend the contract. However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal explained that imposing sanctions on Russian gas and depriving the Russian Federation of the means to finance the war with it is a “strategic goal of Ukraine.”

After that, the Slovak Prime Minister stated that “if Zelensky does not give us our gas, it could lead to a serious conflict.”