EU FAILS TO AGREE NEW RUSSIA SANCTIONS – Hungary refused to back the measures
European Union (EU) foreign Ministers have failed to reach an agreement on the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, after Hungary refused to back the measures ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“This is a setback and a message we did not want to send today, but the work continues,” Kallas told a news conference after talks in Brussels, adding that she also decided to cap the size of the Russian Mission in the EU at 40 people.
Hungary and Slovakia took what they described as “reciprocal” countermeasures against Ukraine following disruptions to oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said that Budapest has made clear in the meeting that it will not support or approve the planned sanctions package, and will also block an EU proposal to provide Ukraine with a 90-billion-euro loan.
Szijjarto said Hungary will not support any EU decision that benefits Ukraine as long as Kyiv continues to halt oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
Addressing the opening of the parliament’s spring session, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Ukraine was attempting to exert pressure on Hungary by halting oil transit. He also said that Budapest will not yield and remains committed to defending its national interests.
