Hungary threatens to block E.U. sanctions extension if eight Russian nationals aren’t removed from blacklist

Hungary is threatening to withhold its approval for extending E.U. sanctions against Russia if the union doesn’t lift sanctions against eight Russian nationals. European diplomats relayed the demands to Reuters on Tuesday without identifying the Russians in question.

A day earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote on Facebook that Budapest would “not consent to rushing ahead” with extending sanctions on certain individuals (whom he also didn’t name).

The E.U. renews its sanctions against Russia, introduced after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, every six months. Extensions require unanimous approval from all bloc members, and Hungary has repeatedly threatened vetos and demanded concessions from Brussels on various issues. To date, Budapest has ultimately supported each extension.

European sanctions against individuals and sectoral economic sanctions are extended separately. In January, Hungary threatened to block the renewal of economic sanctions but ultimately reached an agreement with Brussels after the European Commission agreed to include Hungary in negotiations on resuming gas transit to the E.U. through Ukraine.