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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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
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