Hungary seeks removal of eight names from EU Russia sanctions
Hungary is requesting the removal of eight individuals from the European Union’s sanctions list against Russia, Reuters reported on Tuesday, February 25, citing European diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Reuters source did not disclose the names of the individuals Hungary seeks to remove from the list. However, Budapest is also seeking “additional assurances” in negotiations over gas transit through Ukraine to Europe before agreeing to extend EU sanctions against Russia, DW reported.
The sanctions, imposed in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, must be renewed every six months through a unanimous vote. “Budapest has frequently leveraged these extensions as a bargaining tool,” Reuters reported.
Sanctions against Russia fall into two main categories, each with its own renewal schedule. One category includes economic restrictions, while the other consists of a list of 2,400 individuals and companies whose EU-based assets are frozen. Individuals on the list are also subject to a travel ban preventing them from entering EU territory.
Sanctions targeting numerous Russian individuals and entities are set to expire on March 15. Under EU regulations, a decision on their renewal must be reached by March 10, TASS reported.
Oil and gas supplies from Russia
The assurances Hungary seeks on gas transit pertain to negotiations with Ukraine over resuming Russian gas flows to Central Europe, maintaining Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, and ensuring the security of the TurkStream pipeline, which supplies Russian fuel to Hungary, according to a report published on February 20.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
