Russia’s decision: Hungary and Slovakia on the list of unfriendly countries
The Russian government has decided to keep Hungary and Slovakia on its list of “unfriendly” countries, citing insufficient grounds for their removal despite their willingness to maintain political dialogue with Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed to the daily Izvestia on Wednesday.
The list, introduced in March 2022 following the onset of the war in Ukraine, includes nations deemed to have taken hostile actions against the Russian Federation, including imposing sanctions. Hungary and Slovakia, as EU and NATO member states, were added to the list for adhering to bloc-wide anti-Russian sanctions, according to Pénzcentrum.
Russia keeps Hungary on list of “unfriendly countries”
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that while Hungary and Slovakia strive to preserve strategic trade and economic ties with Russia and support bilateral political dialogue, their commitments to EU and NATO policies force them to comply with restrictive measures against Moscow. This allegiance to Western discipline leaves no justification for revising their current status.
“In accordance with the Russian Federation government’s decree No. 430 of March 5, 2022, Hungary and Slovakia were listed as countries that have committed unfriendly actions against Russia, as well as its legal entities and citizens. Despite efforts to sustain valuable outcomes in strategically important areas of trade and economic cooperation, their alignment with EU and NATO obligations, including anti-Russian restrictions, precludes any status changes,” the ministry stated.
Russia’s list of unfriendly countries, which originally emerged in response to international sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, currently comprises 46 states. These include all 27 EU member states, along with nations such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
The Russian Finance Ministry also reiterated to Izvestia that Hungary and Slovakia’s participation in the EU’s sanction mechanisms justified their inclusion on the list. The ministry highlighted that the list serves as a reflection of countries enacting unilateral restrictive measures against Moscow.
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