The newly formed government in Hungary has indicated its readiness to support European Union sanctions against Patriarch Kirill and other individuals previously defended by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This week, EU officials are set to discuss a “mini-package” of sanctions.
The EU first attempted to impose sanctions on Kirill in 2022, citing his backing of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the dissemination of revisionist propaganda. At that time, Hungary blocked the proposal, framing it as a matter of religious freedom. However, following a change in leadership in Budapest, the political landscape appears to be shifting.
Brussels is optimistic that Prime Minister Péter Maddyár, Orbán’s successor, will allow this decision to proceed. Marton Haidu, the chair of the Hungarian parliament’s foreign affairs committee and a close ally of Maddyár, elaborated on the new government’s stance.
“In cases where the previous government utilized state power for private agreements, I expect the new government to not obstruct the EU’s collective efforts to increase pressure on Russia,”
he stated.
The sanctions against Kirill will be part of a broader “mini-package” that EU ambassadors are set to discuss this week. This package includes around ten individuals, notably those previously excluded from sanctions lists by Orbán, such as Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev and oligarch Vyacheslav Kantor, as well as several vessels linked to a “shadow fleet.”
The final approval of this package is anticipated at the Foreign Affairs Council on June 15. Additionally, a comprehensive 21st sanctions package is expected to be presented in June, with a goal for ratification by July 15.
Furthermore, the EU is considering extending the duration of sanctions from six months to one year, a move that Orbán had previously opposed.
Hungary's new government is poised to support EU sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, reflecting a shift in policy following Viktor Orbán's tenure. The upcoming discussions will address a mini-package of sanctions that includes several individuals previously shielded from such measures.