EU Reaches Compromise on Extending Sanctions Against Russia: Hungary Will Make Concessions, - Politico
Date: 2025-01-27 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WORLD
Hungary has agreed at the last minute to approve the extension of sanctions against Russia.
According to Politico, the country is expected to make concessions in exchange for a statement that addresses Hungary's concerns about "energy security." This was also confirmed by Bloomberg.
It is noted that EU ambassadors are scheduled to meet for an emergency meeting on January 27. The agreement will be formalized during a meeting of foreign ministers that will begin in Brussels after that, one of the diplomats said.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys claims that the scenario in which Hungary blocks the extension of sanctions today "is not a baseline scenario." He added:
"This would put the entire EU and Hungary in a position of weakness. It would also limit the US in terms of its options for finding a long-term sustainable peace in Europe."
EU economic sanctions against Russia will be extended, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday.
"Today we will decide on the extension of the sanctions regime. We will also impose sanctions on three Russian citizens - two 26-year-olds and one 45-year-old - who are responsible for cyber attacks aimed at destabilizing Estonia," Barrot said in Brussels ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
One EU diplomat said Hungary was "playing with fire and planting a bomb in the transatlantic relationship" if it blocked the sanctions.
"The Hungarians like drama," another EU diplomat said. He added that the measures would be continued in one form or another.
