Hungary’s Viktor Orban has once again thrown a spanner in the works as the European Union tries to agree its latest round of sanctions against Russia – because of the impact they will have on Chinese companies.
And the move has prompted arch-Brexit critic Guy Verhofstadt to lash out at Brussels, claiming the bloc had learned “zero lessons” from the Hungarian Prime Minister’s previous vetoes of similar measures.
The EU is trying to push its package of sanctions through in advance of the second anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion on February 24.
However, at a meeting of an EU ambassadors yesterday, Hungary stubbornly refused to agree the plan, which would target nearly 200 people and entities from Russia, China and other countries judged to be helping Moscow’s war effort.
One official said: “The Hungarians did not agree due to Chinese companies.”
Orban has on numerous occasions either slowed down or watered down EU measures intended either to punish Russia or help Ukraine.
Posting on X, Mr Verhofstadt said: “This EU makes me angry…
“13 packages, 13 veto’s, zero lessons learnt.
“How long we will continue with unanimity making a geopolitical Europe impossible?!”
Orban is generally regarded as Putin’s closest ally in Europe, and is also vehemently opposed to EU membership for Ukraine, claiming it was “one of the most corrupt countries in the world”.
More recently, he claimed Serbia should be allowed to join first, telling European Voices magazine: “We have to finish the old enlargement task before we start the new enlargement with Ukraine.
“If we do not integrate Serbia as soon as possible, we will lose it.”
However, he was forced to cave earlier this month when European leaders struck a deal to provide £42.7 billion (€50 billion) in aid for Ukraine – with Orban persuaded to drop his veto.
Also posting on X at the time, European Council President Charles Michel said: “All 27 leaders agreed on an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine within the EU budget
“This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine.”
