Trump may have had a hand in it: Polish Foreign Minister explains why Orban agreed to extend sanctions against Russia

Hungary no longer objects to the extension of sanctions against Russia related to the full-scale war against Ukraine allegedly due to US President Donald Trump. In a recent statement, the new US president called Russia an aggressor and supported further economic restrictions.

This opinion was expressed by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. RMF24 reports that the politician also took part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium, where the continuation of sanction pressure on Russia was approved.

Hungary threatened to block the decision but eventually withdrew its objections.

"I think President Trump has helped here," the Polish minister said.

According to Sikorski, the US leader's recent threats to impose sanctions on Russia are the first such clear position of Trump on this issue. And it is this that prompted Viktor Orban's government to change its mind.

Last week, Trump said that if no agreement is reached on ending the war in Ukraine in the near future, Washington will impose high taxes, duties and sanctions on Russia.

Sikorski added that Polish nationalists should draw conclusions from the Hungarian blockades, as the principle of unanimity in the EU hamper the decisions that are in Poland's interests.

The head of Polish diplomacy was also asked about the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, which could be adopted on the third anniversary of the full-scale war. The Foreign Minister said that its approval is certainly one of the key issues on the list.

As previously reported, the European Union has extended sanctions against the Russian Federation for another six months (until July 31, 2025).

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