Hungary supported the sanctions against Russia, but not for nothing. Media: Viktor Orban negotiated the benefits

According to the Válasz Online portal, in return for the support of the latest, which took place on Friday morning, the other countries agreed that the Russian company Metrowagonmasz would continue to maintain the rolling stock of the third line of the Budapest metro, and also agreed to export equipment of significant value.

Sanctions on Russia. Hungary supported the new EU package, but not for free

The capital’s transport company has been struggling with problems with a Russian contractor for a year, which has already been covered by the first package of sanctions. Because of this, the Russians were unable to perform a 30-year contract for machine maintenance. A solution to this situation was sought, it was speculated that the Hungarian metro operator would break the contract, but at the same time borrow a large amount of money from the Russians. However, this would not solve the problem of supplying spare parts for Russian-made wagons.

Hungary’s support for the 11th sanctions package against Russia came as a surprise, as the country’s authorities had previously sworn that they would not even sit down to the negotiating table until Ukraine withdraws the Hungarian OTP bank, which operates, among others, in in Russia, from the black list of sponsors of Russia. Thanks to the findings of Hungarian journalists, we know what was the reason for the change of position.

Sanctions on Russia. The European Union has adopted the 11th package

The 11th package of EU sanctions against the EU entered into force on Friday and was published in the Official Journal. Their aim is primarily to combat the circumvention of existing sanctions and to close loopholes. The latest package is intended to further weaken Russia’s war machine and limit the Kremlin’s income. With this package, further individual sanctions also entered into force. It is about the so-called a list with a ban on entering the Union and blocked assets in Europe.

There are 104 people and companies on the blacklist. Unofficial information from the Brussels correspondent of Polish Radio Beata Płomecka on this matter has been confirmed. More than 20 of the people now under sanctions are those responsible for kidnapping Ukrainian children and forced adoptions in Russia. These include the authorities of the regions to which children are deported – including Kamchatka, Tatarstan, Krasnodar Krai, or the Kaluga, Belgorod, Voronezh, Magadan and Rostov oblasts. The commissioner for children’s rights in the Moscow region and the associates of the Russian commissioner for children’s rights, accused of war crimes by the Hague Tribunal, which issued an arrest warrant for her, were also blacklisted.

In addition, the sanctions list includes other high-ranking officials from the circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nine Russian disinformation propagandists, military men, oligarchs, judges and people responsible for plundering Ukrainian cultural property are also included. Among the companies covered by the sanctions are those producing missiles, drones, anti-aircraft systems, military vehicles, and technologically advanced components for weapons. As for economic sanctions, a ban on oil imports from Russia via the northern section of the “Friendship” pipeline, which runs to Poland and Germany, came into effect on Friday. Oil originating in Kazakhstan or another third country will still be able to be transported.

The 11th package of sanctions against Russia also includes a mechanism, albeit weakened, that allows the European Union to limit the export of selected products to countries that help Russia circumvent the restrictions. First, specific companies from these countries will be targeted, and then only the EU will be able, if there is a unanimous decision of the twenty-seven, to limit the sale of goods or deliveries.

More than 80 companies have also been subject to sanctions, including for the first time three companies from China, which are accused of supplying Russia with specialized technologies, and thus restrictions on trade with them have been introduced. In addition, transport bans are extended to Russian trailers and semi-trailers, as well as export bans covering all cars, and technologies used by Russia in its attack on Ukraine, including in the aviation sector. The extended list of products subject to export restrictions also includes electronic components, semiconductors, equipment for the production of electronic integrated circuits, or metals used in the defense sector. The latest package also includes a restriction on access to EU ports for ships suspected of carrying restricted goods. If it is confirmed that ships that turn off their location transmitters violate EU sanctions, then they will be banned from entering European ports.