Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Hungary has opposed sanctions against the Russian Federation, according to media sources, it became known that Greece has joined it.

It is reported by Politico with reference to five EU diplomats.

The European Union continues discussions on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia. The previous 10 packages of sanctions were aimed at measures against the Russian economy, but now Brussels wants to avoid circumventing its sanctions. As an unprecedented step, the current package of sanctions could target other countries that help Moscow evade a trade embargo.

But Budapest and Athens opposed it, linking their approval of the package to a separate thorny issue concerning Ukraine. Kyiv has compiled a list of private companies he calls "war sponsors," which includes a number of European companies.

Hungary and Greece want some of their companies removed from that list before they agree to a package of sanctions. Although these issues are usually unrelated, countries use the sanctions package as political leverage to exclude their companies from Ukraine's list.

That sparked tensions at a meeting of EU foreign ministers earlier this week, where German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock clashed with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on May 22 over Budapest's blocking of aid to Ukraine during a closed meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

At a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday, Greece was in the spotlight, four diplomats said. Athens opposed the assumption of circumventing sanctions.

"Greece reiterated that if there is concrete evidence of sanctions violations, they should be brought to the attention of the relevant member states at a technical level so that this is adequately investigated and appropriate measures then taken," said one EU diplomat.

Another EU diplomat said that as long as Hungary and Greece refuse to negotiate anything before their companies are removed from the list, "there is no pressure for real progress in other parts."

But diplomats also say they view Athens and Budapest differently. The level of dissatisfaction with Budapest is much higher, given that its pro-Russian and pro-Chinese lines have often prevented the EU from reaching unanimity in statements regarding Moscow and Beijing.

11th package of sanctions against Russia

Hungary demands to exclude three people from the 11th package of sanctions against Russia, which the European Commission handed over to the member states of the European Union for proposals.

According to CNN, the EU is not going to impose sanctions on Russian state nuclear company Rosatom in its next sanctions package.

The European Parliament wants to ban Hungary from the EU presidency due to numerous violations of European law.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that the 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia will expand existing bans and close the possibility of circumventing sanctions.

Read also:

  • Hungary has not yet lifted unilateral restrictions on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine
  • Orban collapses Hungarian currency with claims of war in Ukraine
  • Hungary threatens to block military assistance to Ukraine from the European Union