Brussels. Counterorder: sanctions on Russian oil still have to wait. After a summit of the heads of state and government that with difficulty found the square for a stop to the purchases of crude oil in Moscow, Hungary changes its mind and makes it impossible to adopt the measures. Reason for objection and reversal is the presence of Patriarch Kirill on the black list of personalities affected by the EU in response to the aggression against Ukraine.
The highest authority of the Russian Orthodox Church had become the subject of restrictions in terms of visa concessions and freezing of assets (estimated at about 4 billion dollars, with the person concerned denying) earlier this month, when the Commission had put on the table to the first time the sixth package of sanctions. In the end, the States had decided to confirm the orientation of the EU executive, but now Budapest is of a different opinion and prevents the Committee of Representatives, the body that brings together the EU ambassadors, from endorsing the agreement reached at the end of the two-day leaders’ summit.
Work in Brussels has been interrupted on a technical level, and resumed on a political level. Contacts are underway with the Hungarian government in the hope that the issue can be resolved shortly. The new stalemate that has arisen prevents sanctions from being approved, and is not good for the image and credibility of the Twenty-seven.
The leaders who met in Brussels on 30 and 31 May to discuss precisely this, were all aware of the blacklist and of the fact that Patriarch Kirill was included in it. However, the green light was guaranteed. Hungary was aware, like everyone, of the arrangement. So something went wrong. Orban has set his foot on oil, but not on the religious leader close to Putin. The request not to include him on the blacklist, however legitimate, the Hungarian Prime Minister should have made it to the top. On the other hand, no objections were raised in Brussels in this regard. Orban’s conduct also raises the question of the good faith of the Hungarian partner. In any case, the sixth package of sanctions against Russia remains frozen, as well as hostage to the whims and second thoughts of Budapest. A summit of the European Council, negotiating efforts, and all the triumphalist tones spent on the green light to ban the oil that no longer exists are frustrated in one fell swoop. At least for now.