Victor Orban once again torpedoes the climate in Brussels, as he again delaying the renewal of EU sanctions against Russia, demanding at the last minute to open Ukraine again and allow Russian gas to flow throughout Epirus.

“Now the issue of the extension of sanctions is on the agenda, I put a handbrake, and I asked European leaders to understand that this cannot continue,” said Prime Minister Victor Orban, speaking at Kossuth Radio. “Hungary cannot be forced to pay the price of sanctions in such analogy.”

Orban made these statements shortly before officials in Brussels met to re -approve the huge EU sanctions package targeting Russia, seriously limiting the country’s trade and freezing nearly 200 billion euros of state assets. All 27 EU countries must approve sanctions every six months.

The reason, this time, of the rage of Hungarian is the recent ending of the agreement between Moscow and Kiev to maintain the flow of cheap Russian gas to Europe. Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitso insist that lost supplies will have terrible consequences for their energy costs and safety. But Ukraine categorically refuses to renew the agreement, and the EU argues that the two countries can easily find other sources of fuel.

However, this is a change in Orban’s message, which previously argued that the EU should wait to see what Donald Trump would do with Russia’s sanctions before they renewed. However, he left this line after Trump threatened Vladimir Putin with more sanctions. Now, the Hungarian Prime Minister is turning his arrows in Ukraine.

However, three diplomats with knowledge of talks said they believed that the populist prime minister would eventually allow approval, possibly on Monday, when foreign ministers meet in Brussels. Europeans have room until next Friday to reach an agreement.

Will Hungary agree on Monday?

An EU envoy predicted that the reunification of sanctions would be achieved on Monday, although Hungary expressed “reservations” during preparatory meetings.

“They like drama,” the envoy was joking.

From the agenda of Monday’s meeting, it seems that Hungary has not yet revealed what to do. Diplomats perceive it as a positive sign – an indication that Orban has not told his officials to veto the renewal of measures against Russia.

“We’ll see,” said a second EU diplomat. “Hungary acts in a quite trading way. Will they ask for an energy -related consideration? … To date, there is nothing on the table. “

In addition, the diplomat added: “We haven’t heard anything here in Brussels from Orban’s team after Trump’s swearing -in.”

Brussels is closely watching the Orban-Trump relationship as they want to see how the Hungarian leader will try to exploit it. Since Wednesday, hawks that support sanctions have adapted their offensive approach to Trump statements, calling on Hungary to retreat.

“I hope that the Hungarian government has read the message of the President of the United States,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski said on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, expressing hope that the EU could not be approved. sanctions but also to adopt further measures.