The European Union is set agree to extend sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine on Monday with Hungary ready to lift its opposition to the move, according to people familiar with the matter, News.az reports citing Bloomberg .
Budapest had been stalling the decision since December when Prime Minister Viktor Orban told EU leaders he wanted to wait for Donald Trump’s inauguration before deciding whether to agree to roll over the restrictions. EU sanctions need extending every six months and although it’s usually a routine decision it needs the backing of all member states.Trump has indicated that he could increase sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin doesn’t come to the negotiating table to discuss how to end the fighting. However, the Hungarian premier later linked the sanctions discuss to his country’s energy security and called on the EU to pressure Ukraine to re-establish the transit of Russian gas to Europe. The EU has approved 15 packages of sanctions approved since February 2022.
After failing to agree to an extension in several meetings between the bloc’s ambassadors this month, the matter was due to be escalated to foreign ministers gathering in Brussels on Monday. Hungary is expected to sign off on the rollover on Monday, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations said.
In return for backing down, the bloc’s executive arm will provide several assurances in a statement relating to the bloc’s energy security, one of the people said. The statement will reaffirm commitments to help Ukraine repair and stabilize its infrastructure as well as address the supply of gas and oil.
Russian gas stopped flowing to Europe via Ukraine this month after a long-term transit contract ended on Dec. 31 and Kyiv closed off a route that’s operated for five decades. The route has recently accounted for just 5% of Europe’s needs and EU officials have said it does not endanger the bloc’s energy security. Still, countries including Slovakia and Hungary were still taking delivery of significant volumes from Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said over the weekend that Kyiv stands ready to allow gas from Azerbaijan to flow through the country.
