Hungary is declaring an open conflict with Brussels, accusing the European Union of being the first to violate its own rules regarding frozen Russian capital.
"The EU violated the rules first"
Hungary is abandoning the principle of loyal cooperation with the European Union, as the EU itself was the first to violate it regarding the issue of Russian assets frozen in the West, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced.
"Hungary observed the principle of loyal cooperation regarding frozen Russian assets. In response, the EU deprived Hungary of its rights. I believe that from this moment forward, Hungary is not obliged to observe the principle of loyal cooperation since the other side rejected it, as clearly happened," Orban told reporters aboard the aircraft en route to the Belgian capital. He posted a video of the conversation on his account on the X platform.
Complaint regarding violation of European law
Orban argued that EU leaders violated European law by proposing decisions on Russian financial assets not by unanimity, but by a qualified majority. "This contradicts the principle of loyal cooperation in discussions about sanctions and creates a dangerous precedent," he emphasized, warning that "this case will have long-term consequences."
The letter to Putin
The Hungarian Prime Minister sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin seeking to learn what Moscow's reaction would be if the European Union proceeded with the expropriation of frozen Russian assets. Orban arrived in Brussels ahead of the EU summit on December 18–19, stating that key discussions will focus on the use of Russian funds and financial support for Ukraine. As he mentioned, he had sent the letter to Putin a few weeks ago, asking if Russia would react to such a decision and if it would take into account which EU member states voted in favor.
"Decisive response" from Moscow
According to Orban, the Russian side responded that "a decisive reaction will follow, based on all mechanisms of international law." At the same time, the Kremlin made it clear that it will "pay attention to the positions of EU member states" on this specific issue.
"In this way, we Hungarians protected ourselves and made it clear—and I repeat it now—that Hungary will not support the seizure of frozen foreign assets, neither from Russia nor from any other country. Hungary will never support it, under any circumstances," Orban stated, according to the newspaper Magyar Nemzet. He noted that the exchange of letters with Putin took place in October.
Threat of appeal to the European Court of Justice
Orban confirmed that he will oppose the seizure of Russian assets at the Brussels summit, adding that Hungary will appeal to the European Court of Justice if the EU adopts a relevant decision.
The Hungarian Prime Minister characterized the expropriation of frozen Russian capital as an act that essentially amounts to a de facto declaration of war, emphasizing that "history has never known the seizure of hundreds of billions from a state without a response."
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