Orbán blames Ukraine for fuel price rises and asks for sanctions on Russian energy to be lifted

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has blamed Ukraine for rising oil prices in Hungary and said he has asked the European Commission to lift sanctions on Russian energy.

Orbán said on Facebook that fuel prices have risen in Hungary. He blamed not only the war in the Middle East but also what he called a "blockade" of Russian oil supplies through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline.

Orbán claimed that the suspension of Russian oil transit is a threat not only to Hungary but to the whole EU.

He said he has called an emergency government meeting to discuss the energy situation.

Orbán also said he has initiated a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in which he called for the suspension of some sanctions against Russia.

"Across Europe, we must review and suspend all sanctions imposed on Russian energy resources. I have initiated this in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," he said.

Orbán said he will block a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until transit through the Druzhba pipeline is restored. Hungary's energy minister has also warned that the country will take legal action if the transit is not resumed within three days.

At the end of last week, the National Bank of Ukraine reported that Hungarian authorities had seized seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and a large amount of currency. The assets were US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kg of bank gold.

On the evening of 6 March, the seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers returned to Ukraine.