Hungarian Gov’t Vetos EU’s Refusal to Be Blackmailed by Putin

EU leaders held informal talks in Brussels on Thursday, with the main topic being Vladimir Putin’s announcement that from now on he would only accept Russian rubles as payment for “gas from unfriendly countries” – which includes EU member states.

On the morning of the day of the meeting, Gazprom announced that it would be willing to cut off gas supplies to the whole of Europe if it did not give in to Putin’s demands, leading to the convening of the crisis meeting.

No official announcement was made about the talks, but Nick Gutteridge, a British correspondent for the British newspaper The Sun, wrote that the joint action failed due to a Hungarian veto. The position of the Hungarian government on the issue was that it was “a matter for private firms and the EU shouldn’t get involved.”

Hungary was the only EU country to oppose rejecting Russia's demand gas payments are made in rubles. At a meeting of top officials from the 27 capitals y'day, the other 26 agreed on a joint rebuff. Budapest argued it's a matter for private firms and the EU shouldn't get involved.

— Nick Gutteridge (@nickgutteridge) March 31, 2022

Joe Barnes, a Brussels correspondent for the Telegraph, also tweeted about the meeting, quoting an EU diplomat, “Classic Orbán: playing for team Putin.”

Hungary was the only EU state that backed EU states paying Russia in roubles for gas bills. Budapest oppose any joint EU approach or statement, while the other 26 said they should reject Moscow’s demand for local currency. EU dip said: ‘Classic Orban, playing for team Putin.’

— Joe Barnes (@Barnes_Joe) March 31, 2022

[Azonnali]