After Hungary's presidency, EU eyes new Russia sanctions push

EU countries are keen to resurrect discussions come January on how to hit Russia’s economy.

Reported from Politico that, additionally, Poland, ordinarily one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, will take over the reins from Hungary as the EU’s presidency rotates. And Warsaw has already signaled it wants to use its six-month leadership stint to get tougher on Russian fuel flowing to the Continent.

According to diplomats and officials, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has used his country’s presidency to bring sanctions talk to a virtual halt. Now, member states are looking to Poland to revive thorny issues languishing on the agenda.

"We hope all questions that became hostages of Hungary’s unconstructive blocking will be solved with a necessary sense of urgency,” said one senior EU diplomat, granted anonymity. "A fresh blow of air is definitely much awaited.”

A second diplomat said there was a growing awareness that the focus of the restrictions needs to be refined. "We need to accept that the sanctions regime isn’t working as it should — there are problems with liquefied natural gas (LNG), there are problems with oil, there are problems with certain trade goods,” the diplomat said.

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