Hungary claimed to have saved Nebenzya and Patriarch Kirill from sanctions.

Hungary succeeded in securing the exclusion of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, and the Olympic Committee from the 15th package of sanctions against RUSSIA, announced Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. His speech was broadcast on the ministry's website.FACEBOOK (owned by Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia).

"Sanctions against the clergy would deprive us of even the last hope for peace," he said ( quoted by Magyar Nemzet).

Hungary holds the EU presidency from 1 July until the end of the year.

Szijjártó explained that Hungary supported the EU's 15th sanctions package against Russia because it successfully "purged" the most "crazy ideas." Specifically, the exemption for Hungarian MOL to EXPORT petroleum products from Russian crude oil was extended, he said.

The diplomat also criticized the recent meeting of EU foreign ministers, where the decision was made, among other things, to impose sanctions, stating that "no one spoke in favor of a ceasefire" and that Brussels continues to insist on a "failed pro-war strategy."

The EU considered imposing sanctions against Patriarch Kirill back in 2022, but Hungary also blocked this. Separately from the EU, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, CANADA , and the United Kingdom also imposed restrictive measures against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church .

On December 16, the EU announced the adoption of the 15th round of sanctions against Russia. A total of 54 individuals and 32 companies were targeted, including from CHINA , India, Iran, Serbia, and the UAE. Brussels deemed them involved in evading trade sanctions and organizing the supply of dual-use goods.

The European Union also expanded its sanctions list of individuals it deems to "undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine." Among those included are singer Larisa Dolina, the airline Utair, and the developer PIK.

Restrictions also affected Tina Kandelaki, Deputy CEO of the Gazprom-Media holding company, as part of EU measures for Russia's "destabilizing actions abroad." The list also included the "secret" GRU unit 29155 and several individuals whom Brussels has designated as "employees" of the agency, including Timofey Bordachev, political scientist and program DIRECTOR of the Valdai Discussion Club. Furthermore, sanctions were imposed on the African Initiative agency and its editor-in-chief, Artem Kureyev, whom the EU considers an "FSB officer."

Moscow has denied accusations of destabilizing actions abroad. Russian authorities consider the sanctions imposed illegitimate and ineffective.

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