Hungary’s OTP bank has become a stumbling block at a meeting of EU foreign ministers discussing military supplies to Ukraine and the upcoming package of anti-Russian sanctions. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto refused to support an increase in military aid to Ukraine, because Kyiv included the Hungarian bank OTP in the list of war sponsors.
Szijjarto’s principled stance was the subject of controversy and criticism from German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock.
The heated discussion between diplomats was reported by Politico, citing eyewitnesses who were present at the ministerial meeting.
Germany and Hungary fell out at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday over the role of the controversial Hungarian bank in the war between Russia and Ukraine, four diplomats said. Diplomats also say the dispute is delaying further sanctions against Russia.
Burbock, as well as the representatives of Sweden and Estonia, tried to put pressure on Szijjártó, because “the EU should not delay new sanctions, which aim to stop the circumvention of sanctions, and with an increase in military assistance to Ukraine”.
“This dispute reflects the growing frustration of other EU countries towards Hungary, which has ended numerous war measures aimed at punishing Russia and supporting Ukraine. While Budapest tended to concede after receiving concessions, the numerous delays infuriated many.
Earlier it was reported that Peter Szijjarto demanded an explanation from Kiev and the European Commission due to information about the possible closure of the Druzhba pipeline, calling the security of energy supply a matter of sovereignty of the country .
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