The European Union requires a unanimous vote to extend sanctions on Russia, a situation Hungary's Viktor Orban wants to use to pressure the bloc into forcing Ukraine to reopen a transit pipeline for Russian gas.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that Hungary will block the extension of EU sanctions on Russia unless Ukraine agrees to reopen a key gas pipeline that runs through its territory, supplying gas to Central European nations like Hungary.

Orban has accused both Kyiv and Brussels of exacerbating Hungary's economic challenges. He claims EU sanctions on Russia have cost Hungary €19 billion ($19.9 billion) over the past three years, a figure exceeding the country’s annual tax revenues.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged Brussels to lift sanctions imposed on Russia after US President-elect Donald trump takes office. In an interview with Kossuth radio on Friday, Orban argued that the sanctions have harmed the European Union more than Russia.

A new era will begin for the West after US President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration the Hungarian prime minister has said Brussels mus

Hungary prolonged its blockage of the renewal of sanctions against Russia as Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union to pressure Ukraine to re-establish the transit of Russian gas to Europe.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is conditioning the extension of sanctions against Russia on Ukraine, meeting several specific conditions. Among these conditions, he includes resuming Russian gas transit through Ukrainian territory and ensuring the security of oil supplies.