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'We don’t like Hungary’s stance on sanctions against Russia’: Polish deputy FM

06.05.2022 21:00
A Polish deputy foreign minister has said that his country is critical of Hungary’s approach to sanctions against Russia over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński holds a news conference about Polands diplomatic efforts in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, in Warsaw on Friday, May 6, 2022.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński holds a news conference about Poland's diplomatic efforts in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Warsaw on Friday, May 6, 2022.PAP/Paweł Supernak

Paweł Jabłoński made the comment at a media briefing on Friday, state news agency PAP reported.

Briefing reporters on Poland's diplomatic drive in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Jabłoński said: “We won’t hide the fact that we don’t like Hungary’s stance on sanctions against Russia, at all.”

“Unfortunately, there are many other outliers when it comes to sanctions, in much bigger and more influential countries than Hungary,” he added.

Push for EU-wide ban on Russian energy

Jabłoński told reporters that for Ukraine to win the war, “the key thing is to cut Russia off from money.” 

He added that this meant “a full embargo on Russian hydrocarbons, including oil.”

He also said that Poland was pushing for the ban “through political talks, diplomatic efforts and appeals to the public."

Initiatives have included the #StopRussiaNow! educational campaign, which has seen mobile anti-Kremlin advertisements appear on the streets of European capitals in recent weeks, he told the news conference.

“If we want to cut Putin off from money, the embargo must apply throughout the European Union,” Jabłoński reiterated.

EU proposes ban on Russian oil, Hungary wants more time

The EU’s executive this week proposed a gradual ban on Russian oil imports. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, suggested a phase-out of Russian crude within half a year and refined oil products by the end of 2022.   

Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic remain sceptical of the plan as they are heavily reliant on Russian oil. 

‘Like an atomic bomb dropped on Hungarian economy': Orban

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said his country needed up to five years to replace Russian oil with alternative supplies. 

He told public broadcaster Radio Kossuth on Friday that the EU proposal "in its current form is like an atomic bomb dropped on the Hungarian economy."      

Brussels is now willing to give Hungary and Slovakia until the end of 2024 to complete the phase-out, effectively a two-year exemption from the ban, the euronews.com website reported, citing diplomatic sources.

Friday was day 72 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, euronews.com