Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Monday after a meeting of EU foreign ministers that Budapest would not block the 13th package of sanctions against Russia that the European bloc is preparing to approve before the two-year anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion. of Ukraine, writes the Hungarian agency MTI, which is quoted by News.ro.

Peter SijartoPhoto: Šulová Kateřina / ČTK / Profimedia

Last week, Hungary blocked the approval of the 13th package of EU sanctions against Russia, not agreeing to the new provisions due to the presence of Chinese companies on the list, according to sources cited by the Ukrainian press.

On Monday, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, from the 13th package of EU sanctions against Russia, all elements that “harm the interests of Hungary” were removed, so Hungary will not be against its approval. But this did not prevent Peter Sijarto from starting the usual criticism of the EU’s policy towards Russia and Ukraine.

“Hungary’s fundamental economic interests are not affected by the specific measures in the sanctions list, but the problem is much bigger: the EU is continuing a strategy that has completely failed, which is not bringing us closer to peace, but further away from it,” he said. Szijártó.

In his opinion, previous sanctions packages only harmed the EU economy, which “still suffers from the psychosis of war”, although it is “already clear” that the war in Ukraine will not end militarily. And the new package of sanctions is only a facade measure, claims Sijarto. The only reason for the new sanctions is so the EU can say it did something on the two-year anniversary of the start of the war.

“If I understand correctly, this is the purpose of this decision, which in itself creates a terrible image of Brussels. I believe that such a facade package makes absolutely no sense,” said the minister.

The 13th package of sanctions will be approved on Wednesday.

Peter Szijjártó also noted that the 14th package of sanctions is already being discussed, and Hungary “will oppose again if there are measures that harm its interests.”

____

  • Follow the latest events of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HotNews.ro