The new Hungarian government, led by Péter Magyar, has indicated it may no longer block European Union sanctions against Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, marking a significant change in Budapest’s stance towards Russia and EU decision-making.
According to Euronews, EU ambassadors are expected to discuss a new “mini” sanctions package on Friday, targeting around ten Russian individuals previously shielded by former prime minister Viktor Orbán, as well as several vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
Hungarian government’s major reversal after years of disobedience
The European Union first attempted to sanction Patriarch Kirill in 2022, accusing the influential religious leader of openly supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and spreading Kremlin-backed propaganda. However, Orbán’s government repeatedly vetoed the move, arguing that sanctioning a church leader would violate religious freedom. Hungarian media reports say the previous administration blocked action against Kirill at least 14 times.
The potential policy reversal is being viewed in Brussels as an early sign that Magyar’s government intends to distance itself from Orbán’s confrontational approach towards the EU. While the new Hungarian government has stressed that measures harming Hungary’s economic stability remain unacceptable, it appears more willing to support joint European action against Moscow.
Márton Hajdu, chairman of the Hungarian parliament’s foreign affairs committee and a close ally of Magyar, told Euronews that the new Hungarian government would not obstruct sanctions in cases where the previous administration had pursued what he described as “private deals”.
Focus expands to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’
The upcoming sanctions proposal would also target several ships believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — vessels allegedly used to circumvent Western oil export restrictions, writes Szeretlek Magyarország. EU officials have increasingly warned that these ships often operate under false flags, with unclear ownership structures and questionable insurance coverage. Several European countries, including France, Sweden and Poland, have already taken action against suspected vessels in recent months.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has urged member states to move more rapidly against the fleet by introducing sanctions on a rolling basis rather than waiting for larger packages. If approved, the new measures could be formally adopted by EU foreign ministers on 15 June. Brussels is also considering extending the renewal period for sanctions from six months to one year — another proposal long opposed by Orbán because it reduced Hungary’s veto leverage within the bloc.
In case you missed it: Russian spies in Budapest? New Hungarian government may receive list of undercover operatives
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Finally we have a government that does not protect an ex-KGB man who promotes Russian mass murder of Ukrainians with promises that Russians who die on the battlefield will wash their sins away with Ukrainian blood.
With respect, Dear Larry – your characterization of Patriarch Kirill is so warped that anyone who did not know the truth of this man would think him to be the contrary to who and what he is.
The Western Elite against The Russian Orthodox Church.
Not the first time, for sure, because, by 1925, the Soviet government, acting on behalf of The Western Elite that installed them, shut down tens of thousands of churches in Russia, and, as well, assassinated hundreds of thousands of Russian Orthodox priests who would not betray their vows.
That was that … or so thought The Western Elite.
God, apparently, had other plans, as now The Russian Orthodox Church is not only resurrected, it now leads the Christian world – it the only major Christian institution not literally infested with practicing heretics throughout it’s heirarchy.
My daddy’s Hungarian family once full of gamblers and bookmakers, I’ll set the odds.
Chances The Western Elite ever manages to mitigate the large, and growing, influence of The Russian Orthodox Church?
1 to 999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999.
Yep, it’s that big of a longshot, and, yes, those are my most favourable odds for
the Western Elite.
But, yes, go ahead and confiscate Patriarch Kirill’s Swiss Rolex’s and Mercedes luxury sedans.
Why would “The Western Elite” of the 1920s care about the Russian Orthodox Church?
The Western Elite, Dear Gary, made Lenin’s Revolution possible.
They got what they paid for – the destruction of Russia as a Christian Country, though, the Revolution they financed did not remove Russia as an ideological, military, or economic competitor.
That said, God did not approve of their plans, and so their craven acts did not create a lasting effect.
It would do you well to study the history of how Lenin went from being an exiled Revolutionary extremist to removing Nicholas and becoming the new Czar.
A new fairy tale from Mouton.
His paternal family are Hungarians 😂😂😂😂😂
Declassified Swiss police archives and investigative journalism confirm that Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, worked for the Soviet KGB in the 1970s under the codename “Mikhailov”.
Criticism from the Vatican: Pope Francis famously warned Kirill during a video call not to become “Putin’s altar boy” . Kirill is a scumbag.
But, Larry – the Vatican is on record of having worked with the CIA and the mafia, for many decades.
The Vatican even issued passports to some of the worst war criminals history ever saw., in 1944-45.
Francis, God rest his soul, was not in a moral position to warn the leading Russian cleric about working with V. Putin – particularly in light of the fact that the Russian church has, with exception of The Soviet Period, always been a prominent part of the state.
In fact, the partnership between Kirill and Vladmir created tens of thousands of new churches and reChristianized Russia.
At this point, the Vatican is openly blessing gay couples, promoting Unitarianism (synodality), and working actively to replace White people as majorities in White countries.
Russian Orthodoxy, under Kirill, is not doing these things, nor engaging in any systemic heresy.
Moreover, The Russian Orthodox Church is the bulwark of The Orthodox World, of which I am a very very happy part.
Patriarch Kirill publicly praises the killings and terror bombings of Ukraine. His words:
“It is gratifying to witness National Guard members honourably performing feats of arms in the area of the special military operation, demonstrating professionalism, dedication to duty, courage and perseverance in harsh conditions.”
Kirill is simply an evil person.
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/2-april/news/world/patriarch-kirill-praises-putin-s-daring-ukraine-raids