EU Renews Russia Sanctions After Last-Minute Deal with Hungary
The European Union has renewed its sanctions on more than 2,400 Russian individuals and entities after striking a last-minute deal with Hungary, which had threatened to veto the measure. The compromise, reached on Friday, resulted in the removal of four individuals from the sanctions list, including Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev and businessman Vladimir Rashevsky. Three deceased individuals were also excluded. Hungary initially pushed for more names to be removed but settled for a smaller concession.
The renewal process had been in jeopardy as Hungary repeatedly blocked the decision, arguing that U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire talks warranted a reassessment of the EU’s stance on Russia. Other EU nations dismissed this reasoning, insisting that sanctions must remain in place to maintain pressure on Moscow. A senior EU diplomat remarked that Hungary "came to their senses" after realizing that siding with Putin was not a viable strategy.
Despite the resolution, tensions between Hungary and its EU partners remain high. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has frequently clashed with Brussels over sanctions and military support for Ukraine, positioning his country as an outlier among the 27 member states. Meanwhile, the European Commission has already begun preparations for a 17th package of sanctions against Russia, signaling that further measures could be on the way.
