Hungary this Saturday threatened to veto a new package of European Union sanctions against Russia after Hungary’s main bank was included in a list of possible sanctions provided by Ukraine through its foreign minister.
In Sweden, where he is taking part in a meeting of European Union foreign ministers, the Hungarian official realized that the Hungarian bank is on a list of organizations supporting the Russian war in Ukraine.
Peter Szijjártó thought it was “outrageous” that the OTP bank appeared on the list because “it did not break any law”.
The European Commission has proposed a new package of sanctions against Russia, the eleventh, which aims to prevent already sanctioned organizations from circumventing the restrictive measures imposed.
This package also includes new trade restrictions that may affect Hungarian companies.
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy declined to comment on the Hungarian minister, arguing that he had not yet heard his statements, but said “it is no secret” that Hungary does not believe sanctions against Russia are effective.
In May, Ukraine’s National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption placed the OTP bank, the largest in Hungary and with a significant presence in Russia, on a list of sponsors of the war.
Source: DN
