Overview

• Hungary successfully pushed the EU to remove four individuals, including oligarch Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, from its sanctions list after weeks of negotiations.
• The EU sanctions, targeting over 2,400 individuals and organizations linked to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, were extended for another six months despite Hungary's objections.
• Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long criticized EU sanctions on Russia, claiming they are ineffective and harmful to Hungary’s economy.
• Critics warn that Hungary's actions could weaken the sanctions regime and encourage legal challenges from other sanctioned entities.
• The concessions to Hungary highlight tensions within the EU over its unified stance on Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.