Europe Hungary withdraws veto on EU sanctions against Russia

Hungary has withdrawn its veto against the extension of Russia sanctions due to expire at the end of January in return for assurances on energy security.

At a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban supported the decision necessary for the punitive measures to continue. Prior to this, the EU Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, had issued a statement on demands from Budapest. In this statement, Hungary is assured that its concerns about energy security will be addressed.

In order to agree to the extension of sanctions, Orban had initially demanded, among other things, that Ukraine reopen a recently closed pipeline that had previously transported Russian natural gas to Central Europe and thus also to Hungary.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto announced that Hungary had received the requested guarantees regarding energy security. The EU Commission had undertaken to protect the natural gas and oil pipelines to the EU member states and was now demanding assurances from Ukraine to secure the EU's oil supply.

Orban blocked for several weeks

Orban had maintained his blockade against the extension of sanctions for several weeks. The decision was actually supposed to have been made last year. However, at the EU summit shortly before Christmas, Orban then announced that he would have to think about the matter and would only make a decision after the inauguration of the newly elected US President Donald Trump on January 20.

The Republican has repeatedly stated that he could end the Russian war against Ukraine in a short space of time. From Orban's point of view, the basis for the sanctions would then no longer apply. He has repeatedly criticized them as useless and bad for the European economy.

If Hungary had not agreed to the extension of the EU sanctions, they would have expired on January 31. This would have affected the extensive economic and financial sanctions, but also the more symbolic sanctions against more than 2,000 individuals and companies. The latter include top Russian politicians such as President Vladimir Putin and numerous oligarchs.

SDA