Orban opposes sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.\u00a0He called the oil embargo a “nuclear bomb.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victor Orban ,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KYIV.\u00a0UkraineGate , 6 , May , 2022 | Ukraine News .<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0<\/strong>Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said he rejects the EU’s latest proposal to ban Russian oil, saying it is tantamount to dropping a “nuclear bomb” on his country’s economy .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Details<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Orban said in an interview with state radio on Friday that he wanted a five-year reprieve – instead of the one currently under consideration, for one year – for Hungary from the EU embargo on Russian oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also said that it would take billions of dollars of investment and access to Hungary’s share of EU pandemic funds to wean Hungary off Russian oil to pay for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU’s executive has blocked Hungary’s access to its 7.2 billion-euro ($ 7.6 billion) share of the pandemic fight over fears of corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Orban also said he would not support sanctions against religious figures, including Russian Patriarch Kirill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, the Hungarian leader stated that his ultimate goal is not to veto EU sanctions, but to have “constructive cooperation” that takes into account Hungary’s interests, in particular with regard to the latest package of sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 4, the EU officially announced<\/a> the sixth package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which includes punishment for the atrocities in Bucha, a phased oil embargo and the disconnection of Sberbank from SWIFT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n