Hungary to back new EU sanctions package against Russia
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó (photo: Getty Images)
Hungary will not obstruct the approval of the European Union's 19th package of sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said, according to Euractiv.
He denied rumors about a possible blocking of the new sanctions package in the context of the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Budapest.
"We don't have such a plan to block it. We managed to take out all those measures which would have gone against our national interest," Szijjártó said.
In response to a question from the publication about whether he participated in the discussion of the following sanctions package against Russia, the minister said that he does not "contribute to crazy things."
Szijjártó added that the EU's sanctions policy had failed because Russia’s war against Ukraine was still ongoing.
New EU sanctions package against Russia
In September, the European Commission presented the 19th package of sanctions against Russia.
In the new package of restrictions, Brussels proposes to increase pressure on Moscow in three key areas for the Kremlin: energy, the financial sector, and trade.
In particular, it provides for a complete ban on the import of Russian gas to EU countries by January 1, 2027.
At the same time, Brussels understands that the pro-Russian governments of Hungary and Slovakia may attempt to block the new package of restrictions.
To prevent this scenario, the European Commission has proposed a new voting mechanism that would deprive Budapest and Bratislava of the ability to block the decision.
After some hesitation, Austria agreed late last week to the adoption of the new EU package against Russia.
The European Commission plans to approve the 19th package of sanctions this week.
