EU member states are preparing a limited new sanctions package that could mark a shift in Hungary’s stance toward Moscow, including potential support for measures against Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and other previously blocked figures, Euronews reports
According to EU officials, ambassadors are expected to review a “mini” sanctions list this week covering around ten individuals and several Russian-linked vessels. The proposal comes as Budapest signals it may no longer obstruct certain listings it previously opposed under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, was first targeted by the EU in 2022 over accusations of endorsing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and spreading pro-Kremlin narratives. However, Hungary blocked his inclusion at the time, citing concerns over religious freedom.
That position now appears to be shifting under the country’s new political direction. EU sources say the current Hungarian leadership is prepared to allow Kirill’s designation, potentially ending a long-standing veto that prevented his addition to the bloc’s sanctions list.
A close ally of new political leader Péter Magyar, Márton Hajdu, outlined conditions for Hungary’s revised approach. “Sanctions that undermine Hungary’s economic stability are an absolute no-go,” he said, adding that Budapest would not obstruct joint EU measures aimed at increasing pressure on Russia where no national economic interests are at stake.
