Orban Presses EU to Lift Sanctions Against Russia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged the European Union to lift sanctions against Russia, citing the impending inauguration of Donald Trump as a catalyst for a new diplomatic era. He argued that the EU should foster a relationship with Russia free of sanctions, a stance he has maintained amid the EU's ongoing sanctions policy in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Orban expressed that while change will take time, the EU must reconsider its current approach, which he believes is ineffective. His comments come as the EU prepares to renew sanctions, requiring unanimous approval from all member states. Additionally, Orban criticized U.S. sanctions imposed on his chief of staff, suggesting they only strengthened his position. The call for a shift in policy reflects growing divisions within the EU regarding its strategy towards Russia and the influence of the new U.S. administration on European relations.