The European Union renews sanctions on Russia after Hungary lifted its threat to use its veto

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The European Union agreed to renew its sanctions against Russia after Hungary dropped its veto threat. The decision comes after statements by the Trump administration that it will not back down from the US restrictions it imposed on Moscow in response to its war in Ukraine.

Viktor Orban, the Russia-friendly prime minister of Hungary, did just that It threatened to let EU sanctions fall at the end of the month If US President Donald Trump decides to ease the sanctions regime. But Trump said last week that he was ready for that Imposing additional restrictive measures If Russia does not reach an agreement to end the war “soon.”

On Monday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó agreed to the EU extension of sanctions, according to three officials. The sanctions, which must be extended every six months by unanimous agreement, include freezing 190 billion euros worth of Russian assets in the European Union.

“Europe is taking action: EU foreign ministers have just agreed to extend sanctions on Russia again,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat. This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war. Russia must pay for the damage it causes.”

Orban did just that last week linked Extending sanctions on Ukraine and resuming Russian gas transportation, as well as protecting the last remaining pipelines still carrying Russian oil and gas to Europe from Ukrainian drone attacks.

Gas transportation deal between… Ukraine On January 1, state-owned giant Gazprom ceased operations. Although the move was largely expected, it caused an uproar in Hungary and Slovakia, two landlocked countries that depend more on gas imports from Russia, and whose governments were friendlier to Russia in 2018. European Union.

On Monday, the European Commission agreed, in a statement seen by the Financial Times, to “continue discussions with Ukraine regarding supplying Europe via Ukraine’s gas pipeline system” and to involve Hungary and Slovakia in this process, as well as “to communicate with Ukraine to supply gas to Europe through a pipeline system.” Gas pipelines in Ukraine. Requesting guarantees regarding the maintenance of oil pipelines transported to the European Union.”

Szijjártó said on the X program that Hungary “received the guarantees it requested regarding the energy security of our country.”