EU Agrees to Extend Russia Sanctions as Hungary Backs Down
- Orban had asked bloc to wait for Trump’s inauguration
- Bloc also agrees to roadmap for easing sanctions on Syria
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European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to extend sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine after Hungary lifted its opposition to the move.
Budapest had been stalling the decision since December when Prime Minister Viktor Orban told EU leaders he wanted to wait for Donald Trump’s inauguration before deciding whether to agree to roll over the restrictions. EU sanctions need to be extended every six months and, although it’s usually a routine decision, it requires the backing of all member states.