BRUSSELS — On Monday, the European Union decided to extend a series of sanctions against Russia for another six months, effectively stymieing the Kremlin’s financial capabilities to sustain its military actions in Ukraine. This decision came after Hungary rescinded its previous objections to the sanctions, allowing for a unified EU response.
The sanctions encompass various sectors, including trade, finance, energy, technology, industry, transportation, and luxury goods. One significant aspect of these measures is the prohibition on the importation and transfer of seaborne crude oil and select petroleum products sourced from Russia into the EU. The current sanctions will remain enforced until at least July 31.
Some of these sanctions were initially imposed in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. However, the scope of these punitive measures expanded considerably in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
Recently, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has advocated for EU involvement in a dispute concerning gas supplies affecting Hungary. Orbán claimed that Ukraine’s decision to stop the transit of Russian gas into Central Europe has compelled Hungary to pursue alternative routes, thereby increasing energy costs for the nation.
In response to Orbán’s concerns, the European Commission included a statement with the latest sanctions extension, emphasizing its expectation that all third-party nations uphold EU energy security. The statement also indicated that the EU could take necessary steps to safeguard vital infrastructure, such as oil and gas pipelines.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed that Hungary received the assurances it sought regarding its energy security. For the prolongation of sanctions to proceed, unanimous agreement is required from all 27 EU member states.
Last week, European diplomats anticipated that Hungary would eventually withdraw its threats of blocking the sanctions, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled potential repercussions, including hefty taxes and tariffs on Russia, if the war in Ukraine persists.
On his Truth Social platform last Wednesday, Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to a resolution and “stop this ridiculous war.” While Orbán has been characterized as one of Putin’s prominent allies within the EU, he is also known for his admiration of Trump.
