Brussels, January 18, 2025 – The Europe Today: Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, has firmly stated that the bloc must retain its sanctions against Russia, emphasizing their importance as a critical “leverage” point. Her remarks come amid uncertainty over Hungary’s potential veto on extending the restrictive measures.
Since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the EU has imposed 15 rounds of sanctions against Moscow. Extending these sanctions beyond January 31 requires unanimous agreement among all member states.
“We definitely need the sanctions in place. This is our leverage, and it would be very strange to give it away,” Kallas told reporters on Friday. She stressed that no significant changes in Russian policy or objectives justify lifting the measures.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has signaled his reluctance to commit to the extension, pending discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on Monday. Speaking on Hungary’s Kossuth Radio, Orban remarked that the EU must adapt to a “new era” with Trump’s return to the White House, advocating for a sanctions-free relationship with Russia.
Trump, while initially pledging to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly, has recently hinted at a longer time frame. Kallas warned that lifting sanctions would weaken the EU’s negotiating position and suggested that maintaining them aligns with US interests.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden has reportedly sought to “Trump-proof” the sanctions by embedding certain restrictions into Congressional legislation, making them more challenging to reverse.
The issue has raised broader concerns within the EU. Leaders fear that if Hungary blocks the sanctions’ renewal, Russia could regain access to approximately €200 billion in frozen assets. Brussels is reportedly exploring legal measures involving Belgium’s monarchy to prevent this scenario, but such actions could place Belgium in legal jeopardy.
Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister known for her hardline stance on Russia, continues to advocate for stringent measures against Moscow, standing in contrast to Orban’s call for peace talks and reduced support for Ukraine.