EU plans are torpedoed: Hungary probably wants to spare the Russians sanctions

With Viktor Orban, Moscow has a reliable advocate in Brussels. After Hungary has already prevented sanctions against the war-preaching patriarch Kirill, it now apparently also wants to protect some members of the Kremlin from punitive measures by the EU

According to a senior EU diplomat, Hungary is trying to protect members of the Russian government from sanctions. The government in Budapest has demanded that three people be removed from the list of proposals for the planned ninth package of EU sanctions, he said in Brussels on condition not to be named. Russia’s Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov is said to be among the members of the government concerned.

Other EU countries resisted attempts to weaken the planned sanctions, it said. The Hungarian representation at the EU could not initially be reached for a statement in the evening.

Representatives of the EU member states have been negotiating in Brussels for about a week now on a ninth package of sanctions against Russia because of the war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU Commission’s proposals provide for new sanctions against Russian banks and additional trade restrictions. In addition, almost 200 other people and institutions are to be put on the EU sanctions list. In the Union, all assets of those affected must then be frozen. EU entry bans are also imposed on the persons concerned.

“We stand by Ukraine’s side and will ensure that Russia pays for its atrocities,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week about the new sanctions proposals. At a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States this Wednesday, another attempt is to be made to reach an agreement on the sanctions package. A written decision-making process would then be initiated.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly torpedoed plans for punitive measures against Russia in recent months. For example, because of Hungary’s resistance, the EU had to forego planned sanctions against the Russian Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Kirill, and a complete oil embargo.