BUDAPEST, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday called on the European Union (EU) to review and suspend sanctions on Russian energy, warning that rising oil prices and supply disruptions pose risks to regional energy security.
In a video message posted on social media, Orban said the increase in fuel prices in Hungary was linked to what he described as a "Ukrainian oil blockade" and escalating tensions in the Middle East. He said he had sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging the EU to reconsider sanctions imposed on Russian energy.
"The Ukrainian oil blockade now represents the most serious threat not only to Hungary and Slovakia but also to the entire EU," Orban said.
He added that the Hungarian government must prevent gasoline and diesel prices from rising to "unbearable levels," noting that an extraordinary government meeting had been convened to address the issue.
Hungary and Slovakia have recently faced disruptions in oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian crude oil to Central Europe via Ukraine. The situation has heightened tensions between the two countries and Ukraine, while raising concerns about the potential impact on regional energy supplies. ■