Hungary said it would only agree to extend EU sanctions against Russia if it reached an agreement with the new administration of US President Donald Trump, according to Hungarian Minister of European Affairs Janos Boka, speaking to German newspaper Die Welt, as quoted by N-TV.
“Without such an agreement, the Hungarian government sees no basis for continuing with sanctions,” Mr. Boka stressed.
The tough stance has further increased tensions between Budapest and Brussels as the EU seeks to extend sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
The European Commission had previously tried to calm the situation by pledging to help negotiate the resumption of Russian gas flows through Ukraine. However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has hinted that any decision to extend sanctions would depend on an agreement with the new US administration.
Diplomatic relations between Kiev and Budapest have become more tense after Ukraine stopped transiting Russian gas through its territory from January 1, 2025.
Hungary has issued a stern warning: If the EU and Ukraine do not guarantee the country's energy security, Budapest will veto the extension of EU sanctions against Russian individuals next March.
Last fall, the EU Council extended individual sanctions against a large group of Russian individuals and legal entities until March 15, 2025. These restrictions target more than 2,000 Russian citizens and Russian companies.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump continues to cause shockwaves with a series of strong moves: declaring his desire to buy Greenland from Denmark, threatening to impose tariffs on EU goods, and igniting a North American trade war by imposing a 25% punitive tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% on Chinese goods, according to Reuters.
