Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is calling on the European Union to suspend sanctions against Russian energy imports, citing a significant spike in energy prices across Europe.
Oil prices have now surpassed $100 per barrel, the first time since August 2022, with natural gas prices also experiencing a sharp rise. These increases threaten to further inflate consumer prices.
The European Union implemented sanctions on Russian oil imports in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia were granted exemptions, allowing them to continue receiving substantial volumes of pipeline oil from Russia.
Orbán stated in a social media post that "The Ukrainian oil blockade and the war in the Middle East are sending oil prices soaring. Europe must act." He has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, demanding a review and suspension of these energy sanctions.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico echoed concerns, criticizing strikes on Iran as a factor in the energy price surge and warning of the dangers of escalating regional conflicts leading to uncontrolled price increases and potential shortages.