Hungary’s new government has signalled it is ready to support European Union sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
EU officials are preparing a limited “mini” sanctions package targeting around ten individuals, including figures previously shielded by the conservative Orbán government, as well as several vessels linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. Diplomats are expected to discuss the proposal this week.
In 2022, Budapest blocked attempts to sanction Kirill, arguing that such measures would infringe on religious freedom. The cleric had been accused by the EU of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Brussels now expects Orbán’s successor, Péter Magyar, to take a more cooperative approach and refrain from using veto powers that previously hindered joint EU action. Hungarian officials have indicated that while measures harming the country’s economic stability remain off the table, the government is unlikely to obstruct broader efforts to increase pressure on Moscow.
The revised sanctions list could also reintroduce Russian figures who were removed at Hungary’s request, including Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov and businessman Vyacheslav Kantor. EU diplomats note that such revisions are a routine part of negotiations, which require unanimity among member states.
Alongside individual listings, the EU is stepping up efforts to target Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers used to circumvent oil sanctions. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has called for faster action against Russia’s “shadow fleet,” urging allies not to wait for large sanction packages before taking steps.
“We have decided to take a more continuous approach to sanctions on the ‘shadow fleet’: rather than waiting for large packages, we will add vessels to the list as soon as they are identified,” she said last month.
