EU Renews Sanctions On Russia As Hungary Ends Opposition

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The European Union has renewed sanctions against Russia after EU member state Hungary stopped blocking the move in return for a declaration on energy security, as it depends on Russian natural gas and oil supplies.

At an EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday, leaders also agreed on a road map to lift some of those imposed on Syria following the recent ouster of its long-time autocratic leader Bashar al-Assad.

EU representatives also called for a unified approach to deal with U.S. President Donald J. Trump and what critics called his “divide and rule policy.”

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said that as the U.S. undertook a “transactional” foreign policy, Europe needed to “close ranks.”

“We are stronger when we are united,” including on the war in Ukraine launched by Russia with a full-scale invasion in February 2022, she told reporters.

“Europe delivers: EU Foreign Ministers just agreed to extend again the sanctions on Russia,” Kallas added in separate remarks on social media. “This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war,” she said. “Russia needs to pay for the damage they are causing.”

However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who maintains close ties with Moscow, demanded consultations with the U.S. Trump administration before a decision on sanctions was renewed.

‘SANCTIONS FREE RELATIONS’

He also said it was time for a “sanctions-free” relationship with Russia. Yet he backed down after it became clear that his ally Trump disagreed. Yet Trump stressed last week that he was ready to increase the economic pressure on Russia to strike a peace deal.

Budapest then cited its complaints about Ukraine ending a transit deal that brought Russian natural gas to Hungary, where households still enjoy one of Europe’s lowest utility bills.

Fearing Hungary would veto sanctions, the EU’s executive European Commission declared it was “ready to continue discussions with Ukraine on the supply to Europe through the gas pipeline system in Ukraine.”

As reporters asked whether the statement meant anything, Kallas said: “Well, it meant [something] to Hungary, so that mattered.”

Ukraine closed its transit of Russian natural gas to the EU but suggested it is ready to sign a contract to move Azeri gas through Ukraine to the EU.

Baku tried to broker an agreement last year to continue Russian flows to the EU or swap in Azeri natural gas, but these failed. Azerbaijan has limited spare gas production. The EU statement also said, “The Commission will approach Ukraine to request assurances regarding the maintenance of oil pipeline transfers to the EU. ”

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said he was satisfied with the Commission’s assurances. “The European Commission committed itself to the protection of the natural gas and oil pipelines leading to member states of the European Union,” he said.

NOT UNFREEZING BILLIONS

Hungary’s lifting of opposition to Russian sanctions was good news for officials from other EU countries.

They had warned that failure to roll over the sanctions before a January 31 deadline would have consequences, such as unfreezing billions of Russian assets in Europe used to help Kyiv.

The sanctions up for renewal include all sector-based bans on trade and measures that immobilized Russia’s central bank assets. Legally, the EU’s 27 countries must unanimously vote to renew these restrictions every six months.

Zsuzsanna Vegh, a program officer at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a policy think tank, suggested that staying united on key policy issues such as the war also sends a signal from the EU to the Trump administration.

She accused Trump of trying to weaken the EU and deal with countries bilaterally.

“European leaders competing for attention from the Trump Administration will have a negative impact on the unity of the EU,” she said. “And Trump’s support for the eurosceptic European far-right could further weaken the union.”

However, Hungary’s Orbán views Trump as an inspiration to “Make Europe Great Again.”

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