Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has expressed the view that European Union sanctions against Russia are ineffective, but he is not opposed to sanctions imposed by the United States to achieve peace.
In an interview with state radio, Orban noted that, unlike Europe, where sanctions are applied without efforts to negotiate, the US uses them as a tool to achieve peace. He argues that in the American approach, sanctions serve as a means of pressure to reach a peaceful resolution of the conflict. At the same time, European policy, according to him, focuses solely on restrictions.
Orban also emphasized that EU sanctions harm Hungary’s economy, noting that the country has lost 19.5 billion euros over the past three years due to these measures. In his opinion, the West is using political methods to fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the interview, the Prime Minister warned that Hungary might veto sanctions against Russia if Ukraine does not resume the transit of Russian gas within six months.
Additionally, Orban reminded of warnings from Donald Trump, who, at the beginning of his presidency, threatened Russia with large-scale sanctions and tariffs if it did not reach a “peace agreement.” Trump also claimed that his goal was to reduce oil prices to end the war. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, he placed the responsibility for concluding a peace agreement on Russia, believing that it should be the one to end the conflict with Ukraine.
