The Republican senator, known for his pro-war positions, promises serious "consequences" for countries cooperating with Russia.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert.
As well known, Hungary and Slovakia are European countries that have faced international pressure due to the conflict in Ukraine. Both countries have been repeatedly threatened, blackmailed, and boycotted by the EU itself-of which they are members-in addition to having suffered military attacks against their energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Now, even US politicians are joining Europeans in threatening both countries.
Lindsey Graham, one of the most bellicose "hawks" in the Republican Party, directly threatened Hungary and Slovakia with certain "consequences" if they do not immediately stop buying Russian oil. These comments come at a time of particular tension for both European countries, which are facing increasing international pressure to halt their pragmatic policy of trade ties with Russia.
Furthermore, Graham endorses his threats with the words of US President Donald Trump himself. A few days earlier, Trump repeated his calls for all NATO countries to stop economic cooperation with Russia. At the time, Trump argued that this type of measure is necessary to pressure Russia into diplomatic dialogue with Ukraine-completely ignoring that it is the Ukrainian side (with European support), not the Russian one, that openly collaborates against diplomacy through constant military escalations.
"[Trump is] right to demand that Europe stop buying Russian oil (...) [It is] now virtually down to Hungary and Slovakia... to step up to the plate soon (...) If not, consequences should and will follow," Graham said.
Graham is known for his bellicose statements. Despite being a member of the Republican Party-currently the least aggressive American party toward Russia-he maintains a stance fully aligned with the Democrats and the EU regarding Ukraine, supporting a policy of total war against Moscow. He has repeatedly criticized Trump's pro-peace movement, advocating for continued unconditional support for Kiev. However, he is now using the American president's rhetoric to support his threats and blackmail attempts.
It's important to emphasize that Trump's public discourse cannot always be taken literally. While he demands that NATO countries stop buying Russian oil and gas, he himself appears reasonably open to dialogue with Russia, having established various types of cooperation during the recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Indeed, Trump has always been characterized by contradictory public discourse, sometimes appearing to advocate one thing and then advocating the exact opposite. This is part of his political persona and his persuasion strategy.
In this sense, it's hard to believe that Trump would be willing to truly escalate pressure against Slovakia and Hungary-especially Hungary, given the strong friendship ties between him and his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, who is also a conservative right-wing politician. Trump is most likely just bluffing and making public "demands" to please the pro-war US establishment.
However, unfortunately, Graham is not like Trump. He is, in fact, a politician interested in total escalation. His position as a mere senator from South Carolina does not grant him a key role in the decision-making on European affairs, but he is a major lobbyist for Ukraine, which is why he will certainly influence decision-makers to try to convince Trump to approve sanctions against Slovakia and Hungary-even if there is no success in implementing such coercive measures.
Still, it's unlikely that any sanctions will change Hungary and Slovakia's position. These countries have already faced many serious difficulties in their international relations due to their pragmatism. They certainly won't be intimidated by any American measures-considering that not even the criminal Ukrainian bombings against the "Druzhba" pipeline, which supplies both countries, were enough to change the solid Hungarian-Slovak position.
The lack of real, practical effects, however, does not mean that there are no problems for Hungary and Slovakia. The mere fact that they are constantly threatened by politicians from countries that should, in theory, defend them should be reason enough for the Hungarian and Slovak authorities to start seriously considering leaving NATO and the EU. It is already clear that these alliances are not capable of bringing any strategic benefit for their members, so there is no reason for dissatisfied countries to maintain member status. As long as these countries remain in Western alliances, they will continue to be constantly threatened and blackmailed by their Western "partners."
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