Hungary Foreign Minister has today opposed the extension of European Union sanctions against Russia and organizations, arguing that it does not want to hinder Russian American talks on the settlement of the war in Ukraine.

The measures taken are more than 2,400 persons and organizations. Among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The “27” will have to decide whether to prolong the sanctions by March 15 and tomorrow the permanent ambassadors of the member states in Brussels will meet to discuss this.

“We are accepting huge pressure to extend the sanctions status for six months,” Peter Sigarto said, speaking on Hungary state television on the sidelines of a US visit. “It is clear that the prospective European politicians (…) want to make decisions as soon as possible to try to block the process of building peace. But we will not agree “because” we have to give the Russian American talks time, “he added.

The EU has imposed a total of 16 sanctions packages on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

He does not want to give up this pressure lever unless peacekeeping negotiations begin. Hungary voted for all sanctions but often attempted to “smooth out” or delay them.

Hungary Prime Minister Victor Orban is one of the few European leaders who maintain close relationships with both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. He refuses to provide at least the minimum military aid to Kiev and in January threatened to veto the extension of sanctions at the expense of the Russian economy, requiring Brussels to push Ukraine to allow Russian gas transit back to Europe. . But in the end it gave the “green light”.