EU extends Russia sanctions amid Hungary's gas transit concerns
Foreign ministers of EU countries unanimously decided in Brussels on Monday to extend economic sanctions on Russia, which were initially set to expire this coming Friday. Hungary, which had previously blocked the extension, received assurances that the European Commission will continue negotiating with Ukraine over possibilities for gas transit.
Due to the risk of Hungary blocking the decision, a meeting of ambassadors from member states was held in Brussels on Monday morning, even before the ministers convened.
According to an EU source, Hungary was promised during this meeting that the European Commission would ensure negotiations with Ukraine on gas transit. The Commission committed to continuing these talks and also to involving Hungary and Slovakia.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, before the ministers' meeting, announced that he expects official guarantees from the European Commission regarding the security of gas supplies. Ukraine has 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, citing the change in administration in the United States as a factor. 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 reached a unanimous decision to extend the sanctions, which occurs every six months, the restrictions would have expired at the end of January.
