Hungary blocks another package of EU sanctions – Financial Times
15 February 2024 12:41
the 13th package of EU sanctions against Russia has not yet been adopted because of Hungary’s position. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing its own sources, the 
Hungary refused to approve the sanctions at a meeting of EU ambassadors on 14 February. The sanctions package currently under consideration includes about 200 companies from Russia, China and some other countries. These companies do not comply with the restrictions imposed by previous sanctions, so the EU wants to limit its own countries’ cooperation with them.
According to the newspaper, Hungary is allegedly not satisfied with the presence of Chinese companies on the new sanctions list, although this statement may not reflect the true motives and intentions of the Hungarian government. The Hungarian ambassador has now taken time to further study the issue.
The discussions will continue and the ambassadors are likely to try to make a decision on sanctions next week.
Hungary and Ukraine
The current Hungarian government is known for its sympathy for Russia and open hostility towards Ukraine. Hungary was the only EU country to block the adoption of the EU mechanism for allocating a €50bn aid package to Ukraine. The country also blocks most of the steps towards Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO and constantly claims that the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine are being violated. On the eve of a full-scale Russian invasion, Hungary brought its troops to the border with Ukrainian Zakarpattia “to address security and humanitarian issues”.
