Hungary eliminates the veto and agrees to extend EU sanctions against Russian individuals and entities
The sanctions imposed on Russian people and companies expired at midnight on Saturday.
Hungary has agreed to eliminate its veto and allow the renewal of the sanctions that the European Union imposed on more than 2,400 people and entities, especially Russia, in response to the large large -scale invasion of Ukraine.
The resolution took place this Friday, less than 48 hours before exhaling them, a risky impasse that placed the block in an extraordinary suspense situation.
The sanctions must be renewed every six months unanimously, which means that a black state can only derail the entire process.
Hungary’s veto has been confirmed several times this week at meetings between ambassadors, with failed attempts on Monday, Wednesday and, more recently, Thursday afternoon.
Budapest demanded that several names from the blacklist be taken, several diplomats said to Euronews. After intense discussions behind the scene, there was a commitment to eliminate four people, three of whom Hungary wanted.
Gulbahor Ismailova, IRMN OLIARGARCA ALISHER USMANOV
Viatcheslav Moshe Office, oligarch
Mikhail Degyaryov, Russian Sports Minister
Vladimir Rashevsky, entrepreneur (eliminated due to a “weak legal case”)
In addition, three deceased people were excluded.
As a result, the extension for another six months was approved on Friday morning. The sanctions must expire at midnight on Saturday.
It is the second time in three months that the Viktor Orbán government endorses Brussels, threatening to undo the sanctions regime that the block has built meticulously since February 2022.
In January, the Orbán government opened an exception to the sector sections, which covers comprehensive prohibitions of oil, coal, technology, finance, luxury goods, transport and transmission, and the freezing of 210 billion euros in the assets of the Russian Central Bank.
Budapest gave way after obtaining a non -binding statement on energy security.
This time, he focused on the blacklist that includes hundreds of military commanders, government officials, oligarchs, propagandists and mercenaries of the Wagner group, all subject to frozen goods and the prohibition of travel.
ADVERTISINGPresident Vladimir Putin and his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, are appointed.
The blacklist also points to hundreds of Russian companies in the army, banking, transport, energy, diamond, aviation, IT, telecommunications and media sectors.
Hungary argues that the inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States and his efforts to achieve a peace agreement deserve to rethink the support of the EU to Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia.
This position is not shared by other Member States, which consider that the pressure on Moscow continues while the war lasts. They also want to follow a “peace through force” strategy to reinforce the position of Ukraine in negotiations and establish the country’s armed forces as a guarantee of effective and lasting security.
ADVERTISINGOrbán does not agree with the mantra of “Peace by force” and, last week, he avoided the adoption of joint conclusions on Ukraine at the end of a special EU summit, forcing their fellow leaders to publish an “annex” signed by 26.
“Hungary has a different strategic approach compared to Ukraine,” said António Costa, president of the European Council. “This means that Hungary is isolated between 27. We respect the position of Hungary, but it is one between 27 and 26 are more than one.”
When leaving the summit, Orbán replied: “The isolated European Union of the United States was isolated from China due to the commercial war and was isolated from Russia due to the sanctions policy. Therefore, if someone is isolated here, it is the European Union.”
Hungary has managed to block the transfer of funds on at least three different occasions this week.
ADVERTISINGThe veto occurred the same week that the US and Ukrainian authorities announced significant progress in their negotiations, relieveing tensions between both parties.
Ukraine said he was ready to implement a high provisional fire of 30 days, since Russia returned, while the United States agreed to immediately increase the suspension of military assistance and the exchange of information with kyiv, which caused consternation in Brussels.
“The ball is in the field of Russia,” said the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
In response, Vladimir Putin said he was in favor of the proposal, but asked that some “nuances” be clarified before the commitment. Putin implied that Ukraine should stop receiving Western armament while the fire lasted.
ADVERTISINGThe European Commission has confirmed that it is already working on a 17 package of sanctions against Russia.
