Why Hungary is again blocking the latest round of Russia sanctions

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Good morning. News to start: Russian president Vladimir Putin last night said he prefers Joe Biden over Donald Trump as US President. Biden was “more experienced, predictable, an old-school politician”, Putin told state TV.

It was déjà vu for EU diplomats yesterday as Hungary once again blocked progress on measures aimed at assisting Ukraine’s defence against Russia. Our correspondents explain why. And Laura reports on a troubling escalation in violence on the streets of Belgium’s capital.

Opposition

Hungary has blocked the approval of the latest package of EU sanctions against Moscow, this time not because of opposition to measures targeting Russia — but China, officials tell Eleni Varvitsioti and Javier Espinoza.

Context: The EU is aiming to get its 13th package of sanctions against the Kremlin over the line by the two-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in nine days’ time. It would complement a €50bn financial support package for Kyiv, and a move to set aside profits from Russia’s immobilised sovereign assets.

Hungary was the sole naysayer at a meeting of EU ambassadors yesterday that otherwise would have signed off on the sanctions package, which targets almost 200 people and entities from Russia, China and other countries who are deemed to be helping Moscow’s war effort.

“The Hungarians did not agree due to Chinese companies,” said one of the officials. Hungary, and its Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have on multiple occasions slowed down or diluted EU measures aimed at punishing Russia or assisting Ukraine.

Another official briefed on the discussions diplomatically described it as “a very fruitful exchange”, delicately detailing Hungary’s blockage as Budapest’s ambassador “request[ing] a bit more time to analyse the content of the proposals”.

A spokesman for the Hungarian ambassador to the EU did not respond to a request for comment.

The proposal is not without controversy, given that it calls for sanctions against three Chinese companies and one in India. A similar move last year was blocked by a chorus of member states. If approved, it would be the first time businesses in mainland China and India have been hit by EU sanctions.

Discussions will continue, officials said, and likely be taken up by member state ministers at meetings next week. Supporters of the sanctions package hope to have agreement by next Wednesday, in order to meet the February 24th anniversary deadline.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, the ambassadors finally agreed on the legal texts necessary to launch the EU’s €50bn Ukraine support package, which was agreed by leaders two weeks ago following Orbán’s decision to drop his veto.

That then needs to gain approval from the European parliament, with the cash on track to start flowing early next month.

Chart du jour: Brain fog

The World Health Organization this month estimated that around 6 per cent of those who contract the coronavirus end up with long Covid. Scientists are grappling with the puzzle of the virus’ long-term effects, with millions sick and a feared lasting impact on health systems.

Ganglands

Four shootings in as many days have shaken Brussels and served as a powerful reminder of the criminal gangs operating in Belgium’s seedy underbelly, writes Laura Dubois.

Context: Over the past eight years, Belgium with its sprawling port of Antwerp has turned into Europe’s prime cocaine trading hub. Last year, authorities seized a record 116 tonnes of cocaine in Antwerp, up from 110 tonnes the previous year.

Violent incidents have risen together with the drugs shipments, and spilled from Antwerp on to the streets of Brussels.

The hip neighbourhood of Saint-Gilles south of the centre is usually known for its restaurants and bars, but yesterday morning just before 6am a man was killed by gunshot near a metro station.

The mayor of Saint-Gilles, Jean Spinette, said the man was likely a local drug trafficker and spoke of a “dispute between dealers” in an interview with broadcaster RTBF. “This is about seizing territory,” he said.

“These are not small neighbourhood deals,” Spinette added, but activities that “bring in a lot of money”, with authorities seizing large amounts of drugs per week.

Earlier in the night, there was a drive-by shooting outside a night shop in a neighbouring area and one person was detained for questioning, according to the Brussels prosecutor. This came after a shooting on Tuesday afternoon, also in Saint-Gilles, and another one on Sunday.

Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt last night told broadcaster VRT that the violence was likely linked to “an extremely violent network that effectively tries to dominate the drug trade . . . and where there is indeed infiltration from the Marseille mafia.”

The Brussels prosecutor did not confirm whether the incidents were connected. “All leads are still open,” the prosecutor said. “It is clear that these are serious incidents which are taken very seriously”.

What to watch today

1. Meeting of Nato defence ministers.

2. European Economic and Social Committee plenary session.

3. European parliament president Roberta Metsola meets Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.

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