After Trump targets Putin, Orban revises Hungary’s strategy on EU sanctions against Russia

A few days ago, US President Donald Trump threatened Russia’s Vladimir Putin with more sanctions if Moscow did not agree to end the Ukraine war. Now, Hungary is weighing its support for the European Union’s move to renew its sanctions against Russia.

Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signalled that he would not support the EU’s effort to reauthorise Russian sanctions, a practice that all 27 countries of the bloc must undertake every six months. However, Orban this week, in a shift of tone, said, “The time for change has come!”

“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” Trump had said on Truth Social.

More from World

Japanese engine for Australian frigates and Indian jets? A new era of Indo-Pacific defence ties 9 Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, killed in Balochistan attack

Reacting to his threats, Russia replied, “We do not see any particularly new elements,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, asked about Trump’s comments. He added that Trump’s first presidency proved that he “likes” sanctions and that Russia is “closely” following the statements he makes.”

Why was Orban opposed to the move?

Last year, Orban said that the EU must abandon its policy of sanctioning Russia for its war in Ukraine or risk causing an economic collapse.

Orban, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the EU, has broken with the majority of European leaders and vocally opposed such sanctions, arguing they did more to damage European economies than they did Russia’s.

The Hungarian leader has said the EU’s sanction regime “should be reviewed, because with such a policy of sanctions, energy prices will not come down.”

“It will be painful for those who argued for sanctions. Not for us, because we will see this as a victory, but the other camp has to change because otherwise it will destroy the European economy,” he said.

Impact Shorts

View All

Japanese engine for Australian frigates and Indian jets? A new era of Indo-Pacific defence ties

9 Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, killed in Balochistan attack

Why is Orban supporting the move now?

Despite withdrawing his support from the bloc’s move to renew Russian sanctions, Orban was waiting for Trump’s response on the matter. As soon as POTUS proclaimed more sanctions on Russia, Orban switched sides and backed down on his earlier stance.

Two diplomats told The Politico that during a recent meeting, Hungary’s representative stated that the country had not yet decided on whether to support the renewal—a noticeable shift from Orbán’s typically more combative public statements.

One EU diplomat said, “I think Hungary should rather check back with their US hero. He seems to be very much in favour of sanctions against Russia.”

Another diplomat said, “When it comes to the roll-over of sanctions, Orbán said he wanted to wait for the inauguration in the US That happened.”

With inputs from agencies