In addition to his typical arguments that the measures are damaging the EU’s economy, Orbán has also been saying the EU must wait to see how Trump would approach Russian sanctions before taking action.
On Wednesday, Orbán got his answer via an unexpectedly bellicose Truth Social post.
Russia, the U.S. president said, must “STOP this ridiculous war.” If it didn’t, he added, “I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the U.S.”
By Thursday, diplomats in Brussels sensed Hungary was ready to drop its veto threat, based on its shifting rhetoric behind closed doors. According to two of the diplomats, Hungary’s representative in meetings on Thursday said his country had yet to make up its mind on the renewal — a marked departure from Orbán’s more oppositional public rhetoric.
“I think Hungary should rather check back with their U.S. hero,” said one EU diplomat with knowledge of the talks, who like others was granted anonymity to speak freely. “He seems to be very much in favor of sanctions against Russia.”
Tick tock
The development comes just ahead of a pivotal meeting on Friday, when officials from the 27 EU countries will try to rubber-stamp the reauthorization. Formally officials have until Jan. 31 to renew the sanctions. The EU is also looking to heap fresh sanctions on Russia in the coming weeks.
