New Russia sanctions on hold as Hungary blocks EU package ahead of fourth anniversary of Ukraine war – Europe live | World news
Morning opening: New Russia sanctions suspended
Yakup Krupa
The European Union is unlikely to agree on a new 20th sanctions package against Russia ahead of the fourth anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine tomorrow, as Hungary continues to block the package.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas He admitted it this morning. “There will be no progress” on this issue today, While Budapest continues to block the implementation of sanctions.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the sanctions package is through… and we are looking for ways how we can do this. We heard very strong statements from Hungary… I really … I don’t see it, unfortunately they will change it today,” he said.
Hungary opposes the proposed measures and the payment of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine as part of the escalating dispute with Ukraine over the transit of oil. Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó “Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow important decisions for Kiev to move forward,” he said on Sunday.
He is coming too Just six weeks before the country’s crucial parliamentary elections, Who can see their pro-Russian prime minister? Viktor Orban He was overthrown after 16 years in power.
The embattled leader is now 10 points behind opposition leader Tisza Peter Hungarian – He is increasingly turning to anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, claiming a conspiracy between Kiev and Brussels to oust him and talking about the risk of the war spreading to Hungary.
Failure to reach agreement on new sanctions package would be politically embarrassing for the bloc Its leaders, including commission president Ursula von der Leyen, plan to travel to Kiev on Tuesday to mark the anniversary.
I will do it I bring here all the important lines from Brusselsand other stories from across Europe as we expected Rob Jetten will be sworn in as the new prime minister of the Netherlands, Finnish Alexander Stubb will meet Frenchman Emmanuel Macron in ParisAnd Hear from the European Parliament on the future of the EU-US trade deal.
His Monday, February 23, 2026, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
important events
Rob Jetten becomes the youngest Dutch prime minister to head a minority government
Rob Jetten, 38, was sworn in as the new prime minister of the Netherlands, the youngest prime minister in history and leading a three-party minority administration.
The three coalition parties have only 66 seats in the 150-seat parliament. and they will have to rely on opposition MPs to get enough support to pass almost any law.
The new government will meet for the first time this afternoon.
Luxembourg foreign minister Xavier Bettel Noting that Hungarians are transactional in their style of working at the EU level, he said: “We often have to find the checkbook or… [some other] We agreed with them.”
“It looks a bit like [being on] There is a market with them: they block and accept if they get what they want.
But he says this has been problematic for years and is “not fair” to other member states, and he hopes a solution can be found soon.
French minister insists 20th sanctions package is just a matter of time
In contrast, France Jean-Noël Barrot insisted that it is not a question of whether the 20th sanctions package against Russia will be adopted, but whenThis, he said, would further deprive Russia’s Putin of the capacity to pursue his “colonialist fantasies” in Ukraine.
Lithuanian Budrys expressed his disappointment with Hungary: ‘We cannot progress like this’
Lithuanian foreign minister Kestutis Budrys He said he was “very angry” with the Hungarian bloc.
“We need to move forward and it really saddens and disappoints me that one of the countries is blocking this for internal or external reasons, I don’t know, but they are not based on the needs of Europe,” he told reporters.
“I really hope that we can have an open and honest discussion by looking into each other’s eyes and answering the questions: What are we doing here, what are we undoing; is it just about Ukraine, or is it about us staying 27 in the European Union?”
He added:
“We can’t move forward like this. We can’t hand over those carrots every time and expect, oh, one country will block it.” [give] them. It can’t work this way. The European Union was designed differently. …
We have a constant [source of] corruption, [and] I have a question about whether we need to review the decision-making process. This is an option. Other option too Invoke article seven and put an end to this abuse of the unanimity principle. “This is truly harmful and dangerous.”
Estonian foreign minister says not imposing sanctions will make Russia ‘happy’
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul also said he was “surprised” by Hungary’s stance on sanctions: and I was hoping to discuss this issue at today’s meeting of EU foreign ministers.
However, the Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna I was more blunt when I said this Not imposing new sanctions will only benefit Russia.
“If we cannot impose sanctions on Russia, Russia will be happy,” he said.
Poland’s Sikorski said the Hungarian government was trying to create and take advantage of anti-Ukrainian hostility in the election campaign
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski harshly criticized Hungary for blocking the 20th sanctions package. He said it was “shocking” that leaders in Budapest, which has a history of fighting against Soviet aggression in the 20th century, chose to attack Ukraine for domestic gains.
“I A much greater sense of solidarity towards Ukraine would be expected from Hungary. Instead, aided by state propaganda and controlled by private but government media, The ruling party succeeded in creating an atmosphere of hostility towards the victim of the attackand… now He is trying to exploit this in the general electionshe said.
Morning opening: New Russia sanctions suspended
Yakup Krupa
The European Union is unlikely to agree on a new 20th sanctions package against Russia ahead of the fourth anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine tomorrow, as Hungary continues to block the package.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas He admitted it this morning. “There will be no progress” on this issue today, While Budapest continues to block the implementation of sanctions.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the sanctions package is through… and we are looking for ways how we can do this. We heard very strong statements from Hungary… I really … I don’t see it, unfortunately they will change it today,” he said.
Hungary opposes the proposed measures and the payment of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine as part of the escalating dispute with Ukraine over the transit of oil. Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó “Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow important decisions for Kiev to move forward,” he said on Sunday.
He is coming too Just six weeks before the country’s crucial parliamentary elections, Who can see their pro-Russian prime minister? Viktor Orban He was overthrown after 16 years in power.
The embattled leader is now 10 points behind opposition leader Tisza Peter Hungarian – He is increasingly turning to anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, claiming a conspiracy between Kiev and Brussels to oust him and talking about the risk of the war spreading to Hungary.
Failure to reach agreement on new sanctions package would be politically embarrassing for the bloc Its leaders, including commission president Ursula von der Leyen, plan to travel to Kiev on Tuesday to mark the anniversary.
I will do it I bring here all the important lines from Brusselsand other stories from across Europe as we expected Rob Jetten will be sworn in as the new prime minister of the Netherlands, Finnish Alexander Stubb will meet Frenchman Emmanuel Macron in ParisAnd Hear from the European Parliament on the future of the EU-US trade deal.
His Monday, February 23, 2026, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
