FM: Hungary will block EU sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy

Hungary will oppose any EU sanctions targeting Russia's nuclear energy sector, despite calls from Ukraine for such measures to be included in the 17th package of anti-Russian sanctions.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made the announcement during a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

He stressed that the issue of the upcoming sanctions package is being discussed with "great enthusiasm" within the European Union, with EU leadership expressing "strong excitement" about the proposals.

Szijjártó pointed out that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had already called for the inclusion of nuclear energy in the sanctions package. He noted that similar calls had been made in Brussels in the past.

"If this proposal is included in the sanctions draft, we will make it clear that it will not work, and it will be removed," Szijjártó stated in an interview with Hungarian journalists, which was broadcast on M1.

Note that, on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has approved its 16th sanctions package. 

EU foreign ministers reached an agreement on the package on 24 February 2025, with the aim of increasing economic and political pressure on Russia.

The measures include enhanced action against Russia’s shadow fleet, extensive trade restrictions, sanctions targeting the financial sector, and actions against Russian media outlets.

By Aghakazim Guliyev