Orban Calls for End to EU Sanctions on Russia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged the European Union to lift its sanctions against Russia. His request coincides with the upcoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump, which is anticipated to herald a “new era”.

During a state radio interview on Friday, Orban suggested it is time to abandon the sanctions and foster a sanctions-free relationship with Russia, even though he recognized that this process might take time.

The EU has implemented 15 rounds of sanctions against Russia due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with renewals required every six months. The next renewal, needing unanimous approval from the 27 member states, is scheduled for the end of January, just 11 days after Trump’s inauguration.

Last month, Orban caught EU leaders off-guard at a Brussels summit by stating he was unwilling to support an extension of the sanctions, as reported on December 19. However, he did not clarify during the interview whether he would veto the extension.

Orban also indicated that the EU might require “a couple of months” to reconsider its position on Russian sanctions, noting that the bloc should be preparing to “get sober” rather than intensifying sanctions.