In Doha at the Qatar Economic Forum, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban argued that backing the 11th package of sanctions against Russia would defy common sense, noting that the earlier rounds had not produced the intended impact, as reported by TASS. He reiterated Hungary’s stance against sanctions on Russia, emphasizing that because the previous ten measures failed to deliver the hoped-for results, it would be unreasonable to pursue a different outcome with another package.
Orban stated that the EU’s sanctions approach, as viewed from Budapest, is not working. He asserted that the policy aimed at pressuring Moscow has not yielded the desired effects and called for a reconsideration of the current strategy, describing it as ineffective in achieving its stated goals.
Responding to claims from some quarters that Hungary is acting in Russia’s interest, the prime minister underscored that the government makes decisions based on Hungary’s national welfare. He contended that aligning with Russia’s preferences would not serve Hungary’s people or its security interests and warned against assuming otherwise.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto previously stated that Budapest would not support new restrictions on Russia’s nuclear energy sector and argued that there should be no expansion of sanctions, arguing that Russia suffered less from earlier measures than European nations did. He warned that the 11th package could pose risks for European exporters and could strain Brussels’ relationships with Beijing. These concerns highlight the broader debate over how far Western actions should go in the name of sanctions, a topic that continues to fuel political contention across Europe and North America. (socialbites.ca)