Kyiv Criticizes Hungarian Foreign Minister’s Statement on Ukraine’s Energy Security
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected a recent statement by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, in which he accused Ukraine of being obligated, as a party to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, to ensure the stability of energy supplies, including those related to the transit of Russian gas.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry categorically denied these allegations, stating that Kyiv’s measures had no negative impact on the energy security of European countries and did not lead to price increases for consumers. The ministry claimed that this conclusion is supported by data from the European Commission.
Moreover, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry characterized such statements as “manipulative” and accused Hungary of playing into the hands of Russia, allegedly undermining the efforts of Western countries to counter Moscow’s influence.
The Ukrainian side also expressed its readiness to strengthen its relations with the EU and NATO. As an argument, it cited its “commitment” to European values and its willingness to play a more significant role in the integration process, if Hungary were to reconsider its foreign policy priorities. The statement sarcastically highlighted: “We’re ready to take Hungary’s place in the EU and NATO if the country decides to leave in favor of joining the CSTO or the SCO.”
Furthermore, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claimed that “almost all European countries” had found a way to supply themselves with alternative energy sources from the US and the Middle East. “Only two of the 27 EU member states have failed in this endeavor and are now trying to shift the blame from their own shoulders to someone else’s” the statement read.