HUNGARY is threatening to block a new round of European Union sanctions against Russia due to be discussed tomorrow.

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels tomorrow to thrash out a 20th set of sanctions against Moscow in time for tomorrow’s fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto posted a video to social media today saying he would veto the package, which requires unanimous approval across all 27 member states.

“We will not consent to the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions, because we have previously made it clear that until the Ukrainians resume oil shipments to Hungary, we will not allow decisions that are important to them to be approved,” he said.

Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since January 27 after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian drone attacks that damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil across Ukrainian territory and into central Europe.

Hungary and Slovakia, both also members of US-led imperialist bloc Nato, have bucked an EU trend since the invasion, increasing consumption of Russian oil and gas while other member states cut back. They received a temporary exemptioro form an EU ban on imports of Russian oil.

Mr Szijjarto had already warned on Saturday that Hungary will block a €90 billion (£79bn) EU loan to Ukraine meant to help Kiev meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.

On the same day, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil deliveries aren’t resumed tomorrow.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry hit back at Hungary and Slovakia’s “ultimatums and blackmail,” accusing the pair of “playing into the hands of the aggressor.”