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Orban emerges as problem in a united EU response to the Russian aggression
A proposal to target a wide range of people and companies, including 351 members of the Russian Duma, over the decision to recognise the self-proclaimed republics in Luhansk and Donetsk is being resisted by Hungary, whose right wing leader Viktor Orbán has a warm relationship to Vladimir Putin.
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During a meeting on Tuesday morning of ambassadors for the 27 EU member states, the EU’s foreign affairs wing, the European external action service (EEAS), proposed sanctioning 27 persons and entities involved in the Kremlin’s decision over Luhansk and Donetsk, the 351 members of the Duma that voted in favour of it and the 11 that proposed it along with the commanders of the Russian military ‘peacekeeping’ mission.
But Orbán’s government in Hungary has refused to support the move at this stage, diplomatic sources said.
“They stressed the importance of dialogue and wanted to reconvene with [Budapest]”, one diplomat said. “It was to be expected but Orbán has now really shown his true colours. Again, this begs the question where Orbán’s loyalty is: to Moscow or his European allies. And the question of how much more of this blocking behavior other leaders can swallow.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/22/west-struggles-to-maintain-unity-in-face-of-russia-ukraine-crisis-eu-debate
...
During a meeting on Tuesday morning of ambassadors for the 27 EU member states, the EU’s foreign affairs wing, the European external action service (EEAS), proposed sanctioning 27 persons and entities involved in the Kremlin’s decision over Luhansk and Donetsk, the 351 members of the Duma that voted in favour of it and the 11 that proposed it along with the commanders of the Russian military ‘peacekeeping’ mission.
But Orbán’s government in Hungary has refused to support the move at this stage, diplomatic sources said.
“They stressed the importance of dialogue and wanted to reconvene with [Budapest]”, one diplomat said. “It was to be expected but Orbán has now really shown his true colours. Again, this begs the question where Orbán’s loyalty is: to Moscow or his European allies. And the question of how much more of this blocking behavior other leaders can swallow.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/22/west-struggles-to-maintain-unity-in-face-of-russia-ukraine-crisis-eu-debate
Hungary is also a member of NATO, but I'm not sure if he can do much to block action by other NATO countries. The EU tends to have rules about unanimity.
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