BUDAPEST, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has blocked the European Union's (EU) 20th sanctions package against Russia as well as a planned 90-billion-euro (106-billion-U.S. dollar) military loan to Ukraine, citing Kyiv's suspension of crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said Monday.
"At today's meeting, I made it clear that we do not support and do not agree to the adoption of the 20th sanctions package," Szijjarto said at a video press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Moreover, Hungary does not consent to Ukraine receiving the 90-billion-euro military loan, Szijjarto said, noting that Hungary will not support any EU decision serving Ukraine's interests as long as oil transit to Hungary remains halted.
"Since Ukraine is jeopardizing Hungary's energy security, we are not willing to contribute to any decision-making in Brussels that benefits Ukraine," he said.
Szijjarto said Hungary will maintain its position until crude oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia are fully restored, despite what he described as "significant attacks" from other EU member states during the meeting.
He also accused Ukraine of coordinating with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition to exert political pressure through the pipeline dispute.
Last week, Szijjarto announced that Hungary had suspended diesel deliveries to Ukraine, stating they would not resume until Ukraine restarted crude oil deliveries to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline. ■
