Germany and Belgium have delivered strong criticism toward Hungary after Budapest blocked a new European Union sanctions package against Russia and halted approval of a $106 billion (€90 billion) financial assistance package for Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin alongside his Belgian counterpart, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Hungary’s actions were contradictory and difficult to justify, according to international media reports.
“Last December, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán agreed to exactly the course of action that his foreign minister is now blocking. Hungary cannot explain this inconsistency,” Wadephul said.
He added that he remained “shocked by Hungary’s behavior,” arguing that it contradicts the country’s historical struggle for freedom, referencing Hungary’s key role in 1989 when it became the first state to open the Iron Curtain.
Meanwhile, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot warned that patience among EU member states is running out.
“Hungary must understand that for other EU countries patience is running out very quickly,” Prévot said, noting that upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary in April may be influencing political decisions.
He stressed that holding Ukraine’s future and urgent wartime needs hostage crosses a red line, calling on Budapest to reconsider its position and remain committed to its obligations within the European Union.
The criticism follows a letter sent earlier this week by Orbán to EU leaders, in which he blamed Ukraine for failing to resume oil transfers through the Druzhba pipeline, a key route supplying Hungary with Russian crude oil.
Orbán argued that while Budapest had previously supported EU decisions in favor of Ukraine, the current situation has become unsustainable, claiming that Kyiv’s actions were creating an energy emergency for Hungary.
The dispute highlights growing divisions within the European Union over policy toward Russia and continued financial and military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
