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.
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