The media learned about the refusal of Greece to agree on a new package of sanctions against Russia

The approval of the 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia is in limbo due to the position of the authorities of Hungary and Greece, which call for the exclusion of companies from the two countries from the Ukrainian list of “international sponsors of the war.” Budapest and Athens are ready to approve new restrictions only after the lifting of Ukrainian sanctions, writes Politico, citing five EU diplomats.

Previously, Hungary alone opposed a number of positions from the 11th package of sanctions, but now it has received an “unexpected ally” in the person of Athens, the newspaper notes.

“The odd couple want some of their companies off the list before they agree to a package of sanctions. While these issues are usually unrelated, Hungary and Greece are using the sanctions package as political leverage to remove their companies from Ukraine’s list.

According to the newspaper, the position of the two countries caused tension at the meeting of EU foreign ministers held this week. Then, according to diplomats, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock “bluntly criticized” Hungary. Then at a meeting of EU ambassadors, Athens was “at the forefront of the discussion.” Greece said that if concrete evidence of violations of the sanctions emerged, they should be brought to the attention of the member states concerned before action was taken against them. According to the newspaper, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, promised to resolve the differences over the Ukrainian list.

At the end of March, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced new restrictions against the Russian Federation. She then stated that the 11th package of sanctions would be aimed at combating circumvention of restrictions.

In May, the foreign ministers of the EU member states failed to agree on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia and additional military assistance to Ukraine from the European Peace Fund. According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, Budapest demands that OTP Bank be excluded from the Ukrainian list of “international sponsors of the war.” According to him, Hungary also did not support a number of provisions of the 11th package of sanctions, speaking out against additional restrictions on trade and sanctions against Chinese companies that are suspected of collaborating with the Russian Federation.