Hungary has once again blocked the renewal of European Union sanctions against Russia, demanding at the last minute that Ukraine reopen its gas pipelines and allow the flow of Russian gas into Europe.
“Now that the issue of extending sanctions is on the agenda, I have pulled the handbrake and called on European leaders to understand that this can no longer continue,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in an interview with state radio Kossuth, adding that Hungary cannot bear such a heavy sanctions burden.
Orbán’s remarks came just before a meeting of European officials in Brussels, where they were expected to reapprove a comprehensive EU sanctions package against Russia, which includes severe trade restrictions and the freezing of nearly 200 billion euros of Russian state assets. All EU member states must unanimously extend these sanctions every six months.
The Hungarian prime minister expressed dissatisfaction with the termination of the agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, which allowed the free flow of Russian gas to Europe.
Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warn that the loss of these supplies will impact energy prices and supply security in their countries.
Ukraine has categorically refused to renew the agreement, while the EU claims that Hungary and Slovakia could easily find alternative fuel sources.
This shift in Orbán’s rhetoric comes after he previously argued that the EU should wait and see how Donald Trump approaches sanctions against Russia before making its decision. However, this argument lost strength earlier this week when Trump threatened Putin with additional sanctions.
Three EU diplomats familiar with the sanctions negotiations have said they expect Orbán to ultimately allow the sanctions to be extended, possibly on Monday, when foreign ministers meet in Brussels. European authorities have a deadline until next Friday to reach an agreement.
An EU envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door negotiations, predicted that the sanctions would be extended on Monday despite Orbán’s reservations expressed during preparatory meetings.
Monday’s agenda shows that Hungary has not yet made a final decision. Diplomats interpret this as a positive sign — an indication that Orbán has not yet instructed his officials to veto the renewal of the sanctions.
“Hungary often acts very transactionally. Will they ask for something related to energy? Currently, there are no concrete demands on the table. We have not heard anything from Orbán’s team in Brussels since Trump’s inauguration,” said another diplomat.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, expressed hope that the EU would not only approve the extension of sanctions but also adopt additional measures against Russia.
