Orbán blocks continuation of EU sanctions against Russia until Trump's inauguration - Bloomberg
Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary (photo: Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán informed European Union leaders of his intention to wait for the inauguration of new US President Donald Trump before deciding whether to continue the EU sanctions against Russia. The sanctions require unanimous renewal by the EU every six months, reports Bloomberg.
Western sources familiar with the matter have reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán poses a threat to block the extension of European Union sanctions against Russia due to its large-scale military aggression against Ukraine.
The Hungarian leader informed the EU that he is currently not ready to support the continuation of the sanctions.
The European Union has already imposed 15 sanction packages on Russia in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The next extension of these sanctions is due by the end of January, just 11 days after Donald Trump's inauguration in the US.
The extension of sanctions requires unanimous support from all 27 EU member states, which could allow Orbán to veto the measure.
At the end of the one-day EU summit on Thursday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that he was not ready to move forward with the issue of extending sanctions, sources told Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity.
It is also noted that there are growing concerns within the European Union that Trump, who has suggested the possibility of reducing or halting US support for Ukraine, could strike a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"rban’s objection drove home a key worry of European leaders: that the Hungarian leader may partner with Trump to shatter the bloc’s unity over supporting Ukraine financially and militarily," writes Bloomberg.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration and the EU have been working to increase pressure on Russia's economy, which is struggling amid growing sanctions.
Orban's attempts to block anti-Russian sanctions and aid to Ukraine, along with his peace initiatives
The European Union has frequently faced obstacles from Orbán, who has blocked several measures aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia or providing assistance to Ukraine.
At the closing press conference of the EU summit in Brussels, Orbán urged Europeans to exercise strategic patience in light of the US presidential change, stating that we should not do anything that contradicts these future transatlantic relations.
Additionally, it should be remembered that Orbán recently revived his peace initiatives regarding Russia's war against Ukraine. These included his proposals for a so-called Christmas ceasefire. The Hungarian prime minister stated that the initiative was presented to both the Ukrainian and Russian sides, claiming that Kyiv rejected the idea.
In response, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Hungary to stop manipulating the issue of the Christmas ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also responded to Orbán's statement, emphasizing that Orbán cannot act as a mediator in peace negotiations.
