Hungary Stalls Russia Sanctions Renewal With Orban’s Gas Demand
(Bloomberg) -- Hungary prolonged its blockage of the renewal of sanctions against Russia as Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union to pressure Ukraine to re-establish the transit of Russian gas to Europe.
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EU envoys were unable to roll over the sanctions during a meeting on Friday as Budapest pointed to energy security concerns during the closed-door discussion, people familiar with the matter said. The issue will now be addressed by the bloc’s foreign affairs ministers on Monday during a scheduled meeting just days before the sanctions expire on Jan. 31.
Orban, a close ally of President Donald Trump, had said he wanted to wait until after his inauguration to make a decision on the renewal, which up to now had been a routine step every six months. But the government in Budapest was caught off guard by Trump’s statements this week threatening further sanctions against Russia if President Vladimir Putin failed to make a “deal” to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Now, Hungary has turned its attention to Ukraine and its decision not to renew Russian gas transit to Europe this year after a multi-year contract expired at the end of last month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he refused to allow supplies that would send fees to Russian coffers, while Orban blamed Ukraine for rising energy prices in Hungary.
The EU is considering his demand, Orban told state radio on Friday, adding that the matter had prompted him to “pull the emergency brake” on renewing sanctions on Russia. The bloc needs the unanimous support of its 27 member states to prolong the penalties.
“If Ukraine wants our help, for example by sanctioning Russia, then please re-open the gas route,” Orban said, adding that it would take “one phone call from Brussels” to make this happen.
Orban irked EU counterparts at a summit last month by withholding support on the renewal, although the Hungarian premier has repeatedly called for the end of Russian sanctions since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago.
He also asked for guarantees from Ukraine that the main alternative gas supply route to Hungary, TurkStream, be spared any potential attacks and that oil supply routes to Hungary also be protected.
Hungary plans to consult with the Trump administration before deciding its position on Russia sanctions, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told reporters on Thursday.
EU diplomats said there is no Plan B in the works so far if Orban doesn’t budge.
--With assistance from Marton Kasnyik and Andrea Palasciano.
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