Hungarian Premier accuses Poland of being ‘two faced’ in its approach to Russian trade
Date
7/30/2024 5:41:47 AM
(MENAFN) A significant diplomatic dispute has emerged between Hungary and Poland, centering on allegations of hypocrisy and transparency in their dealings with Russia. The feud intensified following a sharp critique from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who accused Poland of "two-faced" behavior in its approach to Russian trade.
In a speech delivered in Romania on Sunday, Orban criticized Poland for purportedly maintaining business relations with Russia, despite its public stance against the Kremlin. This criticism prompted a response from Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski, who vehemently denied the accusations. Bartoszewski asserted that, unlike Hungary, Poland does not conduct business with Moscow and even suggested that Hungary should consider leaving the European Union and NATO if it disapproves of their policies.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also weighed in on the controversy, using social media to underscore that Bartoszewski’s response indicates that “the truth hurts.” Szijjarto expressed frustration with the Polish government, claiming that Hungary has long tolerated what it views as Polish provocations and hypocrisy in the name of maintaining neighborly relations. He alleged that despite Polish criticism of Hungary’s oil imports from Russia, Polish companies have also been buyers of Russian oil, though he did not provide specific details.
Before the Ukraine conflict, Poland sourced a significant portion of its crude oil from Russia, utilizing both the Druzhba pipeline and a Baltic Sea terminal in Gdansk. In 2022, Polish imports of Russian oil constituted approximately 60% of its total oil imports. However, Poland has since ceased its contract with the Russian state-owned company Rosneft and ended a deal with Russia’s fifth-largest oil company, Tatneft.
This diplomatic rift highlights the complex and often contentious nature of European Union member states' relationships with Russia, as well as the challenges of maintaining unity within the bloc while navigating divergent national interests and policies.
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