Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Brussels, February 23 (Xinhua) — European Union foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on Monday on a 20th round of sanctions against Russia, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said after Hungary refused to support the measures ahead of the fourth anniversary of the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"This is a setback and a signal we didn't want to send today, but the work continues," K. Kallas emphasized at a press conference following the talks in Brussels, also announcing that she had decided to reduce the maximum number of Russian diplomatic missions to the EU to 40 people.
As Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó stated on Monday, Budapest made it clear at the meeting that it will not support or approve the planned sanctions package, and will also block the European Union's proposal to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euro (US$106 billion) loan.
P. Szijjártó indicated that Hungary will not support any EU decision that is beneficial to Ukraine as long as Kyiv continues to obstruct oil supplies to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Central Europe through Ukrainian territory, has experienced repeated supply disruptions since last year amid the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Hungary claims that, although there are currently "no practical or technical obstacles," Ukraine has decided not to resume crude oil transit.
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