The European Union has agreed to extend its sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

At the meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Hungary lifted its blockade against the renewal of sanctions.

"Europe keeps its promises," welcomed Kaya Kalas in X.

"These measures will continue to deprive Moscow of revenue with which to finance its war," she added, quoted by AFP.

The EU has already imposed 15 rounds of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

However, those sanctions expired on January 31 and the decision to renew them had to be taken unanimously.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been threatening for weeks to oppose their renewal.

He had initially said he wanted to wait for Donald Trump's inauguration to understand Washington's position before agreeing.

But then the US president himself threatened Russia with taxes, tariffs and sanctions in the absence of a quick agreement on the Ukraine conflict.

On 24 January, Viktor Orban again threatened a veto, asking Brussels to pressure Ukraine to resume the gas pipeline to central Europe.

According to diplomats, the EU has therefore agreed to read out a declaration on Hungary's energy security at a meeting of foreign ministers today in return for Budapest's support for renewed sanctions.

The Hungarian Prime Minister has already threatened several times to oppose the renewal of sanctions, which is needed every six months before he finally approves them. | BGNES