Dutch PM: Better chances of extending Russia sanctions at EU level after Hungary elections

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is convinced that Russia will lose the war against Ukraine, but for this sanctions against Russia must be extended.

"Russia, of course, wants to intimidate everyone who provides assistance to Ukraine. But we pay no attention to this. The Russians are losing, the Russian economy is now in very bad shape, and this is also affecting all Russians. And therefore we will continue sanctions against the Russians. After the elections in Hungary, there is now a better chance of continuing this together at the European level," Jetten said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.

As reported, a decision on granting Ukraine a EUR 90 billion reparations loan and introducing the 20th package of sanctions in connection with the war waged by Russia against Ukraine had earlier been blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Leader of the Tisza party Peter Magyar, which won the elections in Hungary, said he did not plan to block the European Union’s provision of a loan to Ukraine and acknowledged that sanctions against Russia must remain in force for as long as the war against Ukraine continues. At the same time, he did not answer whether he would support the new 20th EU sanctions package against Russia.