Orban Signals Opening in EU Spat While Raising Rhetoric at Home

Article content(Bloomberg) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signaled he may be open to resolving a dispute with European Union partners over funding for Ukraine, even as he escalated rhetoric against the government in Kyiv.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentBudapest is “ready to constructively engage” in efforts to reopen transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline, Orban said in a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa Thursday, according to a copy seen by Bloomberg News. Orban will speak Friday with Slovak counterpart Robert Fico on the next steps in the dispute with Ukraine on the oil shipments, he said in a state radio interview.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentIn the letter, Orban signaled readiness to consider a change in his stance on blocking a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine, to which he and EU leaders agreed in December.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article content“I’m fully aware of the political difficulties created by the delay in the implementation of the European Council conclusions on the financial support for Ukraine,” Orban wrote in the letter to Costa. “My initiative also aims at facilitating the timely resolution of this issue.”Article contentOrban, who has made the perceived threat from Ukraine the key theme of his campaign for a fifth consecutive election win in April, used his state media interview Friday to further escalate his rhetoric against the war-battered country. Article contentA Median poll released this week showed the opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar widening its lead against Orban’s ruling Fidesz. Tisza has capitalized on a series of scandals and steered its messaging toward the state of the economy and basic services such as healthcare, which it says Orban is neglecting. Article contentHungary’s economy is “under attack” via the halt of oil shipments from the east, Orban said in the interview. Unless resolved, the lack of incoming energy sources is set to cause “chaos” through a sharp spike in fuel prices, Orban said.Article contentFico is also set to speak by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later on Friday, his office said.Article content—With assistance from Daniel Hornak.Article contentTrending Australia ships LNG 25,000 kilometres to Eastern Canada amid Asian slump Oil & Gas Canada's housing market suffers largest price decline among major economies, says BIS Real Estate Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham faces financial hit from collapsed broker News Feds to invest millions in startup accelerator to boost Canadian defence and dual-use companies Innovation Foreign investment surges to Canada’s strongest level since 2007 Economy Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Australia ships LNG 25,000 kilometres to Eastern Canada amid Asian slump Oil & Gas Canada's housing market suffers largest price decline among major economies, says BIS Real Estate Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham faces financial hit from collapsed broker News Feds to invest millions in startup accelerator to boost Canadian defence and dual-use companies Innovation Foreign investment surges to Canada’s strongest level since 2007 Economy