Post-Orbán sanctions showdown exposes EU capitals’ red lines – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — EU ambassadors will make another push Wednesday to finalize the bloc’s first Russia sanctions package since Viktor Orbán left office, after governments stripped back key measures to protect their energy, fish processing, banking and shipping interests.

For years, Orbán — Hungary’s veteran populist leader who cultivated close ties with the Kremlin and repeatedly threatened to block sanctions — gave other capitals cover to resist tougher action. With Péter Magyar now leading Hungary and Budapest no longer standing in the way, those governments are being forced to defend their objections in the open.

“It has been a surprise and a disappointment how many member states have stalled in their actions,” said Ville Niinistö, a Finnish MEP and chair of the European Parliament’s Russia delegation. “It is of utmost importance to continue strengthening the EU sanctions against Russia in this moment when Russia is starting to feel the pressure of the war in its domestic economy and in public perception.”