Hungary and Slovakia challenge EU sanctions on Russian businessmen
- Hungary and Slovakia are seeking to remove specific Russian businessmen from the EU sanctions blacklist.
- Portugal's Minister of Foreign Affairs notes a collective interest in tougher sanctions against Russia despite Hungary's objections.
- The tension reflects ongoing geopolitical dynamics, particularly the relationship between EU member states and Russia.
As of September 3, 2025, an informal EU ministerial meeting took place in Copenhagen, where discussions regarding a new sanctions package against Russia were held amid the ongoing conflict stemming from the invasion of Ukraine. The Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, noted a strong willingness among most EU countries to create tougher sanctions aimed at decreasing Moscow’s military capabilities. However, Hungary's dissent has historically complicated these efforts, as the country has consistently played a blocking role against further sanctions since the start of the war in February 2022. Rangel emphasized the need to understand Hungary's precise stance during this meeting. Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovakia are actively lobbying the EU to lift asset freezes and visa bans affecting six Russian businessmen, which is tied to the upcoming renewal of individual sanctions that target major figures, including President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. With the sanctions regime needing unanimous extension every six months, these two nations believe that current EU sanctions disproportionately harm the European economy while being ineffective against Russia. This has led to a pattern of targeting high-profile names for delisting in previous sanctions renewals. Recently, there have been instances of successful negotiations that resulted in the removal of certain individuals from the sanctions list, showcasing the influence Hungary and Slovakia exert within EU policymaking. Names such as Arkady Volozh and Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor have been removed following hard-fought discussions. At this point, both countries are adamant about lifting the sanctions on Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, arguing for better economic relations and moderation in sanctions. The upcoming deadline for sanction renewals on September 15, 2025, prompts urgent negotiations among EU member states to achieve a compromise, despite the anticipated lack of agreement during preliminary discussions among ambassadors. Hence, the outcomes of this ongoing political tussle will tip the scales for the sanctions regime and its future efficacy against Russia, particularly influencing the ties between Central and Eastern European states and the Kremlin as this geopolitical conflict continues to evolve.