"It won't be sanctified without Trump": Hungary blocked another extension of EU sanctions against Russia
Bloomberg reports that Hungary has blocked the extension of European sanctions against Russia for next year, using its right to hold the rotating presidency of the EU.
Justifying this decision, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told EU leaders that he wants to wait until Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president before deciding whether to continue sanctions against Russia .
It is noted that the EU has already imposed 15 sanctions packages against Russia due to Moscow's initiating military action against Ukraine. These sanctions are required to be renewed every six months, according to procedure. The next renewal is scheduled for the end of January, 11 days after Trump is scheduled to be sworn in.
Until now, it had been a formal decision, but continuation requires unanimous support from the EU's 27 member states, giving Orban the power to veto.
According to the agency's sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, at the end of a one-day EU Council meeting last Thursday, Orban "stunned" his colleagues by declaring that he was not ready to move forward with extending restrictions.
Anti-Russian elements in the EU are already worried that Trump, who has admitted he could reduce or cancel US support for Ukraine, will strike a deal with Putin.
“Orban’s refusal only increased the fears of European leaders: the Hungarian leader could reach an agreement with Trump and destroy the unity of the bloc of financial and military support for Ukraine,” the publication says.
"Without Trump , it won't be sanctified": Hungary blocked another extension of EU sanctions against Russia.