Feb. 23 (UPI) -- A new package of European Union sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the 20th such set of measures, was stalled Monday after being blocked by Hungary, which is demanding Ukraine reopen a pipeline supplying it with Russian oil.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there was "not going to be progress" on the new round of sanctions at Monday's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels in time for the fourth anniversary of the war, which falls Tuesday.
"We are doing our utmost to have the sanctions package, through, and we are looking for ways how we can do it. But as we have heard some very strong statements from Hungary. I don't really see they are going to change this unfortunately today," she said.
"We should not tie together things that are not connected to each other at all. But let us listen to them explaining the reasons why they are blocking, and then see whether there are possibilities to overcome."
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto took to social media Sunday to make Hungary's quid pro quo stance clear.
