Bóka claimed that EU member states will need to “reach an agreement” with the Trump administration on the scope and purpose of the next package of anti-Russian sanctions. “Without such an agreement [with President Trump],

The European Union (EU) has been placing sanctions on Russia since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. These sanctions are meant to pressure Russia into stopping its attacks. However, the EU can only continue these sanctions if every country in the group agrees.

The European Union will moved forward with a renewal on Russian sanctions after a deal was struck with Hungary, according to multiple reports.

A row over the end of Russian gas flows via Ukraine has intensified as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to block the next rollover of EU sanctions against Russia unless Brussels helps to achieve a restart of supply.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday said he wants the European Union to intervene in a gas dispute his country has with Ukraine, a potential sign of friction in the bloc's upcoming discussions over renewing sanctions against Russia.

Hungary has not yet decided whether to support the sanctions rollover due at the end of this month. The EU renews sanctions every six months and requires unanimity among its 27 member countries to do so.

There was no joint statement by the European Union countries on the presidential elections in Belarus because of Hungary's position. This was reported today, January 27, by the European media.

The European Union has agreed to prolong for 6 months a raft of sanctions aimed at depriving Russia of funds to finance its war against Ukraine.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has declared that Budapest will block the next extension of EU sanctions against Russia unless Ukraine "refrains from measures that harm Hungary’s energy security".