Hungary removed its veto on the EU’s six-month extension of sanctions against Russia, Euractiv reported.
The agreement was reached after the EU agreed to issue a joint non-binding statement by chief diplomat Kaja Kallas and the European Commission in support of Hungary’s energy security at a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday.
Budapest suspended the extension of EU sanctions for several weeks, demanding that Brussels put pressure on Ukraine to resume halted gas transit from Russia to Europe. According to the statement, the EU promised to continue negotiations with Ukraine on supplies to Europe through its gas pipeline system.
In that context, the Commission is ready to associate Hungary in the process (along with Slovakia).
In turn, Budapest supported the continuation of sanctions, having received guarantees of support from the EU, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said.
Hungary has received the guarantees it has asked for on the energy security of our country.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán repeatedly postponed previous EU decisions on sanctions against Russia as well as aid to Ukraine before finally approving them. The sanctions agreement signed on Monday was also finalised after Szijjártó held a phone conversation with new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
