Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long been a headache for European leaders who try to take a hard line on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Orban, a long-time Putin ally,

Hungary wants to remove eight individuals from the European Union's Russia sanctions list and receive fresh guarantees on Ukraine gas transit talks before agreeing to renew the restrictions, EU diplomats said.

Croatia’s oil pipeline operator said it has agreed a transit shipment of 2.1 million tonnes (50,000 barrels per day) of oil with Hungary’s largest oil operator MOL until the end of 2025

Hungary has threatened to block the latest package of sanctions against Russia unless it receives guarantees on the resumption of gas supplies through Ukraine.

"Hungary also blocked sanctions against 27 individuals and organizations, including Patriarch Kirill, arguing that targeting religious leaders undermines peace efforts," a Hungarian government spokesperson said.