Latest news with #PeterSzijjarto
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
EU nation blames Ukraine for energy crisis
Ukraine has put energy security in Europe at risk by suspending pipeline gas transit through its territory, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said. He added that Budapest has managed to secure supplies thanks to Serbia. Kiev refused to extend a five-year transit contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom at the end of 2024, effectively cutting off EU member states, including Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Moldova, from the flow of natural gas. 'Ukraine has abandoned Central Europe in terms of energy supply security after shutting down the natural gas pipeline that used to transport gas from Russia, from the east, to Europe – primarily to Central Europe,' Szijjarto said in a video shared on Facebook on Saturday, stressing that the move has placed the region in a difficult position. The foreign minister went on to say that Serbia is now providing transit shipments to ensure sufficient energy supply to the region, adding that Hungary currently receives over 20 million cubic meters of gas daily through the neighboring country. After Ukraine opted to not prolong the gas transit deal with Gazprom, the TurkStream pipeline – which runs through Türkiye and the Balkans – became the only route supplying Russian gas to the region. Russia, once the EU's main gas supplier, dramatically reduced exports to the bloc three years ago following Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. The country's share of EU pipeline gas imports dropped from over 40% in 2021 to around 11% in 2024. Earlier this month, the European Commission announced plans to completely eliminate reliance on Russian energy by the end of 2027. The bloc's executive branch said it would propose legislation requiring all member states to draft 'national plans' to phase out imports of Russian gas, nuclear fuel, and oil as early as this month. Szijjarto criticized the proposal as 'absolute insanity,' warning that, if adopted, it would trigger energy price hikes across the region and seriously harm the sovereignty of EU member states. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pledged to block the initiative. Commenting further on Ukraine's role in undermining Europe's energy security, Szijjarto added that Budapest and Belgrade have agreed to build a 200-kilometer oil pipeline connecting the two countries by 2027. He added that the project will help Hungary avoid a rise in gasoline prices.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Hungarian FM advocates East-West cooperation for economic, tech growth
BUDAPEST, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto emphasized on Tuesday that fostering cooperation between East and West can bring long-term economic and technological benefits. He cautioned, however, that ideological and political interference continues to undermine such potential. Speaking at separate events in Vacratot and Budapest, Szijjarto reaffirmed Hungary's commitment to a balanced and pragmatic approach to international engagement. "We have never considered East-West cooperation a threat but rather an opportunity from which we Hungarians can greatly benefit," he said. Highlighting Hungary's "Eastern Opening" strategy launched over a decade ago, he said the country has since consistently supported investments from Asian countries, regardless of political or ideological differences. The "Eastern Opening" strategy was officially introduced in 2011 by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. The policy aimed to diversify the country's economic and diplomatic ties by strengthening partnerships with Eastern countries, hence to reduce Hungary's dependence on Western markets. "We never discriminated based on politics, ideology or nationality. We only asked companies to respect Hungarian laws," he said. He noted that Hungary's automotive sector continues to thrive despite global disruptions and geopolitical shifts, serving as a cornerstone of the national economy. "There is no alternative to global cooperation in the automotive industry," he said. Szijjarto described Hungary as a strategic hub for both Eastern and Western manufacturers in the electricity mobility sector. He projected that Hungary will soon have the capacity to produce over one million vehicles and more than two million engines annually, and will have the world's second-largest battery manufacturing capacity. The minister also expressed concern over recent political and economic missteps in Europe. He argued that the combination of Western technology and Eastern energy resources once underpinned Europe's economic growth, but that model has been dismantled. He said the lack of cooperation with the East has led to higher energy costs for European companies compared with their competitors in the United States or China. Szijjarto also criticized ideological and political interference in economic affairs, warning: "Disrupting this cooperation for political reasons leads to serious consequences, and the biggest loser would be the European car industry."
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hungary cancels meeting on national minorities with Ukraine over spying scandal
Hungary cancelled a meeting planned for May 12 with a Ukrainian delegation on the rights of national minorities, Hungary's Deputy Foreign Minister said on May 11, amid a deepening spying scandal between the two countries. "I cancelled tomorrow's meeting because I believe that the recent developments in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations do not allow for an honest and constructive discussion on such an important and sensitive issue as the rights of national minorities," Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar wrote. On May 9, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast, detaining two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state. Soon after on May 9, Hungary allegedly expelled two "spies" working under diplomatic cover at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. In response to Szijjarto's statement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine is expelling two Hungarian diplomats from Kyiv. The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify accusations of spying. Zakarpattia Oblast is a region with a sizable ethnic Hungarian minority and a sensitive location along NATO's eastern frontier. Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and dual citizenship schemes. Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority concentrated in southwestern Ukraine, an accusation that the Ukrainian leadership denies. Much of these disputes center around Ukraine's language laws that require at least 70% of education above fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian. While Budapest has called this measure discriminatory toward the Hungarian minority, Kyiv retorted that it only aims to ensure that every Ukrainian citizen has sufficient knowledge of the official language. Hungary has formulated an 11-point request to Ukraine regarding the rights of national minorities, which included the restoration of the status of a national school, the ability to take a high school diploma in Hungarian, and the ability to use Hungarian in public life. Ahead of exacerbated tensions caused by the scandal, the two countries have in recent months sought to mend relations on the issue. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in October 2024 that Kyiv was preparing a bilateral cooperation document with Budapest "to clear up misunderstandings" between the two countries. While Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Sept. 30 after talks with Szijjarto that both sides see "positive dynamics" in resolving issues related to national minorities. In September 2023, the Ukrainian parliament approved changes to national minorities law, which was one of seven steps recommended by the European Commission in June 2022 for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The changes were signed into law by Zelensky in November. Hungary continues to maintain positive relations with Russia in contrast with other EU members. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly leader in the EU during Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. He has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war. On March 26, Szijjarto visited Moscow to discuss continued economic cooperation between the two countries. Read also: Ukraine detains Hungarian spy network in westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast, SBU reports We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine accuses EU state of spying
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has said it dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network allegedly operating in Transcarpathia, Ukraine's westernmost region. In a statement on X on Friday, SBU spokesman Artyom Degtyarenko said two Ukrainian military veterans – a man and a woman – were detained as part of the operation. The network, Degtyarenko claimed, was run by Hungary's military intelligence service and tasked with gathering sensitive data on Ukraine's defenses in Transcarpathia. It also reportedly collected information on local socio-political views, including how residents might respond to a potential Hungarian military incursion. 'For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the Security Service has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network, which carried out espionage activities to the detriment of our state,' Degtyarenko said. The SBU also released a video that purportedly shows the apprehension of the male suspect. Both detainees are in custody and face charges of high treason. If convicted, they could face life in prison and property seizure, the spokesman said. Asked to comment on the situation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the SBU's accusations as anti-Hungarian propaganda. 'In the past three years, it has unfortunately been proven that the Ukraine conflict is partly a propaganda war as well,' he told reporters on Friday. 'It is clear that anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used in Ukraine, which in many cases has been found to have no basis whatsoever.' In a separate Facebook post, Szijjarto said the 'intensifying smear campaign' by the Kiev regime stems from Hungary's refusal to support Ukraine militarily in its conflict with Russia. He warned that Ukraine's EU accession depends partly on Hungary's backing and said Budapest 'won't tolerate' slander from Kiev. Szijjarto added that Hungary expelled two individuals on Friday who he said were Ukrainian agents operating under diplomatic cover at the embassy in Budapest. Tensions between Kiev and Budapest have been growing over the Ukraine conflict, with Hungary refusing to supply weapons or support Ukraine's EU bid while maintaining ties with Moscow despite pressure from Brussels. Budapest has also long accused Kiev of discriminating against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Hungary has criticized Ukrainian laws that limit education and public administration in minority languages as infringing upon the rights of ethnic Hungarians.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine exposes Hungarian military spy network, detains 2 for high treason
May 9 (UPI) -- Ukraine said Friday two alleged members of a Hungarian spy network have been detained. The spies sought military information about the Zakarpattia region, according to the Security Service of Ukraine. "As a result of the operation in Zakarpattia, the SSU detained two agents of the Hungarian network. The investigation found that both assets were supervised by an officer of Hungarian military intelligence, whose identity has already been established," the SSU said in a statement. "This is the first case in the modern history of the country when espionage activities of a foreign intelligence service from an EU country to the detriment of Ukrainian security have been officially recorded." Speaking on the ATV television channel, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said "anti-Hungarian propaganda is often employed in Ukraine... which often turns out to have no basis in fact." But the SSU said Ukraine has the evidence and has neutralized the Hungarian spy network. SSU Counterintelligence documented the alleged spies' moves and seized phones and other material evidence during searches at their homes. The SSU said one of the detained alleged spies was a 40-year-old former military serviceman from Berehove recruited by Hungary and put on standby in 2021. The second detainee is a former servicewoman for the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine who left her unit this year. The spy network's goal, according to the SSU, "was to collect information on how well Zakarpattia region is protected military-wise, to look for vulnerabilities in the region's ground and air defense, as well as to study the socio-political views of local population, including scenarios of their behavior if Hungarian troops enter the region." The man was accused of personally spying on Ukraine defense forces locations and the coordinates of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. The SSU said the spy traveled to Hungary to report to a Hungarian intelligence officer and was paid cash by his handler. According to the SSU, he was given a mobile phone with an encrypted channel to transmit Ukrainian military data to Hungary. He was tasked with identifying cars of the Ukrainian security and defense forces and giving Hungary data on Ukraine's war losses and developments on the front line. The SSU said the woman accused of spying was assigned tasks including "informing the Hungarian special service on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia region, as well as on the defense systems of the military unit where she had served." Ukraine's security service posted a YouTube video that included statements in Hungarian from the two spy suspects. Their faces were obscured as they spoke. Both spy suspects were detained for suspicion of high treason and face life imprisonment if convicted under martial law.
