The European Union (EU) is unlikely to reach an agreement on the 20th round of sanctions against Russia in the immediate future, according to the bloc's top diplomat.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, attributed the deadlock to the firm stance of Hungary against the proposed restrictive measures.
"Tomorrow marks four years since the start of this terrible war, and naturally, there will be discussions regarding the 20th sanctions package. However, as you all know, I do not believe there will be any progress on this issue today, though we will certainly insist. We have heard very serious statements from Hungary, and I do not think they will change their position," Kaja Kallas stated.
The statement follows earlier remarks by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who confirmed that Budapest would block the 20th round of sanctions against Russia. Hungary has consistently maintained that further economic restrictions are counterproductive and damaging to European interests, often requiring significant concessions or exemptions to allow previous packages to pass.
The European Union's sanctions mechanism requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states to be implemented. Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, the EU has introduced unprecedented measures targeting Russia's financial, energy, and technology sectors. However, as the conflict enters its fourth year, maintaining total diplomatic unity within the bloc has become increasingly challenging, with member states debating the long-term economic impact of continued decoupling from Russian markets.
