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Anti-Russian sanctions

US sanctions against Gazprombank jeopardize Central Europe’s energy security

"The security of energy supplies to the country is a matter of sovereignty," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto added

BUDAPEST, November 22. /TASS/. US sanctions against Gazprombank threaten the energy security of Central Europe, Foreign Minister of Hungary Peter Szijjarto said in connection with Washington introducing new sanctions against Russian companies and individuals.

"Including Gazprombank into the sanction list is a decision deliberately aimed at putting some Central European countries into a challenging situation, intentionally jeopardizing the security of energy resources to certain countries of Central Europe. The government of Hungary will certainly ensure the security of energy supplies to the country, despite the external pressure, and we are working with our partners to find a solution," Szijjarto wrote on his page on Facebook [banned in Russia, owned by Meta, recognized as extremist in Russia].

"The security of energy supplies to the country is a matter of sovereignty," the minister said. "If somebody tries to threaten the security of our energy supplies - either with the help of sanctions or by terminating transit deliveries - this is an encroachment on our sovereignty. We reject any such attack against our sovereignty; we will not succumb to pressure and will not give up our national interests," Szijjarto stressed.

The minister noted that he is going to discuss these issues on Friday at meetings with counterparts from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Serbia in Istanbul, where an international energy forum is being held now. Hungary is also involved in ongoing consultations with Slovak partners, he added.

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