Orban does not want to extend EU sanctions against russia until after Trump's inauguration

The EU has imposed 15 packages of sanctions on moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, which must be renewed every six months. The next extension is due by the end of January, 11 days after Trump is to be sworn in.

Until now, this has been a routine decision, and usually the political decision on this was made at the last EU summit of the year, but the extension requires the unanimous support of the 27 member states.

According to the newspaper's sources, at the end of the one-day EU summit on Thursday, Orban surprised his colleagues by saying that he was not ready to extend sanctions until Trump takes office.

Orban's denial reinforced a key concern of European leaders: the Hungarian leader could partner with Trump to break the bloc's unity on financial and military support for Ukraine, the publication said.

In the final weeks of the Biden administration, the US and EU have worked to increase pressure on russia's struggling economy, including tightening the sanctions regime.

The EU has often faced obstacles from Orban, who has blocked a number of steps aimed at increasing pressure on russia or helping Ukraine. He is a close ally of Trump and traveled to Florida earlier this month to meet with him in person.

Source: Bloomberg