Hungary’s Orban threatens to block Russia sanctions over Ukraine gas transit dispute

Bloomberg reported the information.

Orban’s government dropped its initial resistance to extending the sanctions after receiving assurances from the EU’s executive branch that gas shipments through Ukraine would continue. However, he made it clear that Hungary’s support hinges on that promise being kept.

“If the pledge is broken, then not only will we propose ending sanctions but we will end them,” Orban stated in a radio interview. The EU’s sanctions regime, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states, could face renewed opposition from Budapest in six months if the issue remains unresolved.

• On Monday, January 27, EU foreign ministers convened in Brussels for a meeting of the EU Council, where they decided to extend sanctions against Russia.