Hungary won't use veto against EU sanctions on Russia

The prime minister, Viktor Orban, said unity of the 27-member bloc is key in view of the war in Ukraine.

This week, Hungary joined an initiative of eight EU leaders to start membership talks with neighbouring Ukraine, but NATO member Hungary has refused to transport deadly weapons via its territory to Ukraine.

The 58-year-old Orban faces elections in just over four weeks, but his campaign has been complicated by rising inflation, an EU funding freeze due to a disagreement over democratic standards and the consequences from the war in Ukraine.

“We condemn the Russian attack after they have launched a war against Ukraine”, Orban told the Mandiner news page.hu in an interview published Thursday.

The “must return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. The whole of Europe must work for peace”, Orban said.

Orban, who has been sharply criticised by the Hungarian opposition for his friendly ties with Moscow, said Hungary's ties with Russia have been “balanced and fair” to the very recent past, but war has created a new situation.

He added, however, that there was no reason to cut power ties with Russia.

Russia has begun its invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, although it had denied plans for weeks to conquer.

The attack on Ukraine was followed by severe sanctions by Western countries for Russia.