All of Europe continues to trade with Russia, but only Hungary does so openly, said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó.
“Sanctions against Russia do not work, because a significant part of European companies finds a way to maintain economic cooperation with Russia in one way or another by a roundabout way. All of Europe trades with Russia. Some deny it, but we have no need for it. The only difference is that we speak honestly and openly about it,” Szijjarto said after the session of the 15th Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission on economic issues.
Addressing representatives of Hungarian companies at the Russian-Hungarian business forum, Szijjarto pointed out that they will never have to deny that they are looking for Russian economic partners because in Hungary it is not a bad thing.
As proof that European companies are massively circumventing sanctions, Sijarto cited the sudden increase in imports of Russian energy products to India and exports from that country to EU countries, “Sputnik” reported.
Sijarto previously stated that Western Europe is proud to say that it is giving up Russian oil, but in fact it continues to buy it through third countries, for example India.
Since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, the EU has introduced 14 packages of sanctions against Russia. The last one was introduced in June.