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Orban Urges EU to Lift Russia Sanctions as Trump Era Approaches

EU Pressed by Orban to End Russia Sanctions Amid Trump’s Return

Orban Urges EU to Lift Russia Sanctions as Trump Era Approaches
Orban Urges EU to Lift Russia Sanctions as Trump Era Approaches

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on Brussels to lift sanctions it imposed on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine once Donald Trump is in the White House as president of the United States. In an interview with Kossuth Radio, Orban said the restrictions "are damaging the EU more than they are hurting Moscow." Budapest has been one of the handful of EU capitals that has openly opposed the sanctions.

Orban said he hoped Trump's swearing-in on Monday would herald a new era for the West, and that Washington and Brussels must rethink their stance toward Moscow. "The time has come to throw off the shackles of sanctions," he said, outlining plans for the EU to have a sanctions-free relationship with Russia by 2025.

The prime minister singled out Hungary's success during its European Council presidency last year to keep the question of peace between Russia and Ukraine in the front and center of EU discussions. Orbán also recalled his diplomatic efforts last summer – as he dubbed a "peace mission"– and visited Kiev, Moscow, Beijing in an effort to call for the end of hostilities and even met Trump when the latter was a presidential candidate in Mar-a-Lago in Florida. The initiative then earned him harsh criticism by EU officials that claimed he acted independently of the bloc's stance.

Orban said he realizes that Hungary, with a population of 9.5 million, cannot solve the conflict on its own. He added that he was prepared to "pass the baton" to Trump, who during his election campaign promised a swift solution to the Ukraine crisis, though he was notably vague on any specifics.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also appeared to suggest Moscow was open to any proposals the new U.S. administration may put forward toward a resolution. Yet, in a report last week the Financial Times noted alarm within the EU that Trump could lift some of the U.S. sanctions on Russia given that he tends to view them as belonging to his predecessor Joe Biden's administration.