EU Renews Russian Sanctions After Deal With Hungary to Remove Four Individuals

Hungary dropped its veto threat after securing the removal of three Russians it lobbied for, while a fourth was delisted due to a weak legal case.

The European Union renewed sanctions on over 2,000 Russian individuals and entities, extending the measures until September 15, 2025.
Hungary initially sought the removal of nine individuals from the sanctions list but ultimately secured the delisting of three: Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, Mikhail Degtyaryov, and Gulbakhor Ismailova.
A fourth individual, Vladimir Rashevsky, was removed from the sanctions list based on insufficient legal justification rather than Hungary's lobbying efforts.
Hungary's stance, citing strategic differences on Ukraine, has repeatedly complicated EU consensus on sanctions, requiring unanimous approval for extensions every six months.
Estonia criticized Hungary's actions, with its foreign minister suggesting Hungary’s voting rights be suspended for undermining EU unity and security interests.