EU extends Russia sanctions after Hungary secures gas talks
The foreign ministers of EU countries unanimously decided in Brussels on Monday to extend economic sanctions on Russia, which were initially scheduled to end on the upcoming Friday. Hungary, which had previously blocked the extension, received assurances that the European Commission will continue negotiations with Ukraine regarding possibilities for gas transit.
Due to the risk of Hungary blocking the decision, a meeting of ambassadors from member states took place in Brussels on Monday morning, ahead of the ministers' meeting.
According to an EU source, Hungary was to receive guarantees during this meeting from the European Commission regarding negotiations with Ukraine on gas transit – the Commission committed to continuing talks and also to including Hungary and Slovakia in these discussions.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, stated before the start of the ministers' meeting that he expects official guarantees from the European Commission regarding the security of gas supplies. Ukraine decided not to renew the contract for the transit of Russian gas, which expired at the end of the year.
Budapest had previously obstructed the extension of economic sanctions imposed on Russia due to the war in Ukraine, pointing to the change of administration in the United States as a reason. After Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the USA, Hungary began demanding assurances regarding the transit of gas through Ukraine.
If the member states had not made a unanimous decision to extend the sanctions, which are renewed every six months, the restrictions would have expired at the end of January.
