EU renews sanctions on Russia after being held to ransom by Hungary’s Orbán

The European Union managed to broker a unanimous agreement on Friday to extend sanctions on more than 2,400 Russian businesses and individuals, despite an earlier Hungarian veto, according to Reuters.

The sanctions, which were imposed as punishment for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, require renewal every six months and the unanimous support of all 27 EU member states. Earlier in the week, Hungary vetoed the proposal three times.

According to Euronews, Hungary sought the lifting of sanctions on a number of Russian figures, including mining tycoon Alisher Usmanov’s sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova; Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarov; and banking magnate Vladimir Rashevsky, which was eventually approved by other member states. However, Hungary’s attempt to have sanctions on Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman lifted were unsuccessful.

On Saturday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has already isolated himself in Europe over his pro-Moscow stance, reiterated his government’s opposition to EU military support for Ukraine, as well as to granting Ukraine EU membership.

Orbán claimed that the EU was seeking to “to colonise,” rather than “assist Ukraine,” and encouraged his supporters to vote against Ukraine’s EU membership in an upcoming special referendum in Hungary.

Orbán, who has wielded power in an increasingly authoritarian manner since first coming to power in 2010, faces a general election next year, with his ruling Fidesz party currently trailing rival Péter Magyar’s Tisza party in public opinion polls.