Orban To Oppose New EU Package Of Russia Sanctions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is reportedly considering launching a "national consultation" on Russia sanctions following remarks yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly saying that sanctions should be scrapped.

• Hungarian Newspaper Magyar Nemzet quoted Orban yesterday saying that if EU sanctions on Russia were scrapped, "gas prices would drop by 50% immediately while inflation would also fall."
• According to Bloomberg a "national consultation" is a tactic used by Orban which entails "a large-scale government ad campaign bordering on state propaganda."
• Orban likely to again present significant obstacle to new raft of EU sanctions. Hungary may opt to use pending ratification of Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO as leverage to block or obfuscate new a new package discussed at an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council yesterday.
• Latvia FM Edgars Rinkevics said of the council: "Busy day in New York ends with the extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba present, full support to Ukraine, more weapons to, more sanctions against, it is only way to respond to Putin’s blackmail."