Hungary Forces EU to Remove Sanctions on Four Russians

Viktor Orbán leveraged Hungary's veto power to secure the removal of four individuals from the EU's sanctions list, while broader sanctions were extended for six months.

Hungary used its veto power to demand the removal of four individuals, including oligarch Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, from the EU sanctions list.
The EU sanctions, targeting over 2,400 individuals and organizations linked to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, were extended for another six months after the concession.
The individuals removed from the list include Kantor, a major Russian fertilizer investor, and Gulbahor Ismailova, the sister of oligarch Alisher Usmanov, among others.
Orbán has consistently criticized EU sanctions on Russia, arguing they harm Hungary's economy and are ineffective in addressing the conflict in Ukraine.
Diplomats warn that Hungary's actions could encourage legal challenges from other sanctioned individuals, potentially weakening the EU's sanctions framework.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung