Borrell expressed confidence in the adoption of a decision on new

sanctions against RUSSIA.The reason is the dissatisfaction of a number of states with the inclusion of their companies in the Ukrainian list of "war sponsors"Why the EU is delaying new sanctions

On May 22, in Brussels, a two-day meeting of foreign ministers of the countries of the European Union began, one of the goals of which is to agree on the 11th sanctions package against Russia. On the first day, its participants failed to advance in this direction. The main opposition, as follows from the statements of EU politicians and officials, is provided by Hungary ( Ukraine has included the Hungarian OTP Bank in the list of "war sponsors"). At the same time, on May 15, Budapest blocked the provision of another tranche to Kyiv from the European Peace Fund in the amount of €500 million, ANSA reported, citing a source. it was expected that the decision on the allocation of funds would be made on May 22.

“We must do everything we can to ensure that the next package of military assistance to Ukraine is approved. If one of the member countries has problems, let's discuss them. This is what we are going to do. My role is to talk to everyone in an attempt to find a solution. Until now, we have been able to find solutions for everyone. <...> I am sure we will be able to do the same,” said EU top diplomat Josep Borrell at a press conference following the talks in Brussels. So he answered the question of how legitimate it is to link the lifting of sanctions against a Hungarian bank with the allocation of financial assistance to Ukraine and in what format discussions on this issue should be conducted (broadcast was conducted on the EU website).

Even before the meeting, Borrell told reporters that some member countries have questions about providing military assistance to Ukraine and agreeing on a new package of sanctions against Russia. “This issue is not only about Hungary, many countries have objections and would like to discuss it,” he said.

Politico, citing several European diplomats, reported that during the meeting, the foreign ministers would discuss the Ukrainian list of “war sponsors”, which, along with OTP Bank, included other European companies. According to the publication, Hungary and Greece demand to exclude their companies from the Ukrainian list as a condition for continuing the discussion of new sanctions against Russia. One of the diplomats, in a conversation with Politico, called the sanctions against Greek companies a "witch hunt" and recalled: Athens complained that this was done without warning. “If Kiev sees any signs of violating sanctions, it should go to member states and share the facts so they [can] be properly investigated,” the diplomat said, calling the list “absolutely counterproductive.”

OTP Bank, Hungary's largest commercial bank, was included by Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) on the list of "war sponsors" on May 4 based on the "position of the bank's management to continue operations in Russia and the de facto recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics", the agency said in a statement. Also on the list were the German company Metro, the French Auchan and Leroy Merlin, and the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (these companies continue to operate in Russia).

Read PIONERPRODUKT .by "The Man in the Case" and "The Waiting Syndrome": 14 Investor Cognitive Distortions Emigrated and Made $2.1 Billion in Yogurts: The Story of Hamdi Ulukai Hunger in ITforces HRs to change strategies. What's new Typical adultery: why people cheat and what to do about it What arguments does Hungary make

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó during a break in the meeting said that there should not be a new package of sanctions against Russia. He argued that the previously introduced restrictive measures cause much more damage to the European economy than the Russian one. “We must learn from the effects of previous sanctions here in Brussels,” Szijjártó said. He also said that the draft package of sanctions against Russian nuclear energy. Budapest, according to Szijjarto, will not accept or support any steps in this direction, as this will jeopardize the security of Hungary's energy supply. Szijjarto stressed that during the meeting the foreign ministers made no progress either on the issue of adopting a package of sanctions or on the issue of providing military assistance to Ukraine.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister added that his country would not agree to the allocation of military assistance to Kyiv until OTP Bank was excluded from the number of "sponsors of the war." “Until this happens, we will not agree to provide €500 million to EU countries as compensation for their costs of arms supplies to Ukraine,” Szijjártó told Hungarian journalists. He added that he had previously raised the issue of withdrawing the Hungarian bank from Ukrainian sanctions during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on May 12 in Stockholm. According to him, Borrell told him that he “spoke about this with the Ukrainians, even personally with the HEAD of the Foreign Ministry, he promised to find out.” “Now I have received a promise from the High Representative that he will once again point out to the Ukrainians that this is a problem. Ukrainians are aware that this is a serious problem. We received a message from them through various channels, that this issue will be resolved. So we are waiting for this,” said Szijjártó.

During an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Stockholm, Szijjártó also said that it would be “difficult” for Hungary to even start negotiations on a new package of sanctions against Russia until Kiev reverses its decision on OTP Bank.