European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has said the bloc is unlikely to reach agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, as continued Hungarian opposition keeps consensus out of reach.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the meeting, Kaja Kallas said the bloc would keep working to push the proposal forward by engaging member states, but she did not expect a breakthrough during the talks.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticised Hungary more directly, accusing Budapest of showing a “shocking” lack of solidarity with Ukraine. He also suggested the Hungarian government was stoking hostility towards Kyiv for domestic political advantage.
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Johann Wadephul expressed surprise at Hungary’s stance and urged Budapest to reconsider, arguing that the country should remain aligned with European values while acknowledging Hungary’s own history of struggles for freedom.
“We should be ready for talks, but it is ultimately up to Russia to show it is willing to make meaningful concessions to Ukraine,” he said.
He also stressed that Europe must maintain pressure on Moscow through sustained sanctions, along with continued political and military support for Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting, Péter Szijjártó accused Kyiv of “political blackmail”, arguing there is no physical obstacle to resuming crude oil transit.
“The pipeline itself has not been damaged and there is currently no physical reason to restart the deliveries. It is purely a political decision by Ukraine,” Szijjártó told reporters.
He added that the move was coordinated with the Hungarian political opposition and officials in the European Union.
“The problem is that the Ukrainian state hates Hungary,” he said. “Ukraine is behaving in a very hostile way towards Hungary. Please ask the Ukrainians why they have stopped the oil deliveries and put Hungary’s energy security at risk.”
Hungary blocks Ukraine aid and pipeline dispute continues
Hungary has also said it will block a €90 billion financial assistance plan for Ukraine until oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
The pipeline, which carries Russian crude through Ukraine to Central Europe, has been out of operation since late January.
Kyiv says the disruption followed Russian drone strikes on energy infrastructure, while Hungarian and Slovak authorities argue that Ukraine has failed to repair the damaged system.
The dispute has further complicated EU unity as the bloc approaches the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
EU foreign ministers were also due to meet Nikolay Mladenov, director of the Trump-backed Board of Peace initiative for Gaza, in Brussels to discuss the future of Gaza’s reconstruction and stabilisation. The talks form part of broader discussions covering the war in Ukraine and potential new sanctions against Russia.
The EU continues to support the United Nations’ role in Gaza, although some governments remain cautious about engaging formally with the new structure.
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The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned ahead of World Environment Day that Afghanistan's worsening water crisis is disproportionately affecting women and girls, who bear much of the responsibility for securing water for their families.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
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