Hungary strikes again... As the European Union confirms no agreement Monday on a proposed 20th package of sanctions against Russia,EU leaders are furious at Budapest.
The majority of EU states were hoping to unveil their next round of punitive sanctions in time for thefour year anniversaryof the grinding war, on Tuesday. But instead Hungary came in with a resounding veto, and not just one - but two.
"This is asetback and message we did not want to send today, but the work continues," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in response to the failed passage.
The sanctions weren't the only major anti-Moscow move vetoed by Hungary. It in fact exercised a double-veto, further infuriatingBrussels leadership:
A €90 billion emergency loan for Kyiv and a new package of sanctions against Moscow are being held up by Budapest over an energy disputeinvolving the transit of Russian oil through the Soviet-era Druzbha pipeline.
"We should not tie together things that are not connected to each other at all,"High Representative Kaja Kallas said on Monday morning before heading to a meeting of foreign affairs ministers that was intended to approve the sanctions.
"But let us listen to them explaining the reasons why they are blocking, and then see whether there are possibilities to overcome."
Others also vented their anger and frustration, with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressing to reporters, "I amastoundedabout the Hungarian position."
The top German diplomat added: "I don’t think it’s right if Hungary uses its own fight for freedom tobetray European sovereignty."
And Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys asserted he was "really upset and frustrated" with Hungary, alleging that Budapest's motives "are not based in European needs, they are not based in European security interests."
Source: ZeroHedge News
