Orban urged to reconsider sanctions against Russian Federation "hindering Europe's development"

Budapest is convinced that the sanctions against Moscow need to be lifted as soon as possible, and to the fullest extent possible, but only a couple of countries in the European Union (EU) agree with its opinion. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on December 21.

"If the [military conflict] ends, the [anti-Russian] sanctions tormenting Europe will end. Hungary's point of view is this: sanctions should be lifted as soon as possible and as fully as possible," the politician said at a press conference. The broadcast was conducted on his Facebook page (owned by Meta, an organization recognized as extremist in Russia).

As Orban explained, if the restrictions against Russia could be lifted, the EU would immediately end the development-inhibiting period of inflation and the economy itself would "start to straighten out again."

"We defend this position in European discussions, and we are constantly beating against the woodwork. Because, apart from us, one or two countries think so, and the rest, including the 'big countries', are on the opposite side and do not discuss this idea yet," said the head of the Hungarian government.

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Before that, on December 19, Bloomberg agency reported that Hungary refused the EU in Hungary to extend sanctions against Russia before US President-elect Donald Trump officially takes office. It is specified that a unanimous decision of 27 members is needed to extend sanctions towards Russia. To vote for the continuation of sanctions is necessary until the end of January 2025.

Earlier, December 16, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary supported the 15th package of EU sanctions against Russia, because an exception was made for the Hungarian energy company MOL to export oil products from Russian raw materials. On Dec. 4, Szijjártó said Hungary had asked the U.S. to make an exception to the sanctions against Gazprombank for gas payments from Russia.

Meanwhile, on November 15, Orban said that Europe's economic path is comparable to suicide. Thus, the result of the conflict in Ukraine, according to the politician, are the problems with the Hungarian economy. In his opinion, the imposition of sanctions against Russia, imposed by Brussels, was wrong. Orban noted that the imposed restrictions led to an increase in energy prices, which caused inflation in the country. At the same time, European countries do not have enough money to finance the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 7 that the volume of Western anti-Russian sanctions is unparalleled in history, but they have not dealt Russia "a crushing blow from which it will not be able to recover." The head of state emphasized that Russia is actually needed by the world and the restrictions will not affect this fact.

Western countries have tightened sanctions pressure on Russia in connection with the special operation to protect Donbass. The decision to launch it was announced on February 24, 2022 after the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.