EU sanctions on Russia hurt Europe itself, Hungary’s PM warns VIDEO

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sharply criticised the European Union’s decision to impose new sanctions on Russia, saying that “they crashed Europe" itself.

“Brussels promised sanctions would crush Russia. Instead, they crushed Europe. Energy prices exploded, competitiveness collapsed, and Europe is falling behind. This is the cost of bad decisions. Negotiations are needed, not escalation,” Orbán wrote on X, per Caliber.Az.

In his address on December 21, Orbán said misguided decisions by European leaders led to soaring oil and gas prices and formed a widening economic gap among EU member states.

🔻 Brussels promised sanctions would crush Russia. Instead, they crushed Europe. Energy prices exploded, competitiveness collapsed, and Europe is falling behind. This is the cost of bad decisions. Negotiations are needed, not escalation. pic.twitter.com/OiUaHI6UiF

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 21, 2025

Orbán called for the start of peace negotiations and urged efforts to find a political solution to the conflict instead of further escalation.

He said that the continued conflict in Ukraine benefits only a limited circle of interested parties, while inflicting damage on Europe as a whole.

According to Orbán, the war serves the interests of politicians who believe a nuclear power can be defeated on the battlefield, arms manufacturers profiting from prolonged conflicts, and bankers who have wagered on Russia’s military defeat. He argued that these groups are the primary beneficiaries of the ongoing hostilities.

In the latest effort to increase pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, the EU sanctioned an additional 41 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet on December 18, prohibiting them from accessing EU ports, services, or insurance. This builds on prior listings (over 500 vessels total), aiming to disrupt Russia's ability to export oil above the G7 price cap and fund its military efforts.

In a previous such move on December 15, EU sanctions targeted 23 individuals and entities supporting the shadow fleet, including oil traders, companies linked to Rosneft and Lukoil, and enablers in third countries like Türkiye and India. Additionally, 12 individuals and 2 entities were listed for Russian hybrid threats, including disinformation and cyberattacks.

By Khagan Isayev