Hungary nods on 11th EU sanctions package despite unmet demand
Kyiv compiled a list of private companies it calls "sponsors of war,” which includes a number of European enterprises, such as Hungary's OTP Bank. Being on this list has no legal or economic relevance at all, but Budapest promised to block the EU's 11th sanctions package targeting Russia, as well as the disbursement of the next (8th) tranche of the off-budget military support for Ukraine until OTP's name is scratched out from this list.
The Swedish Presidency in the EU Council has announced on Wednesday, though, that EU Ambassadors green-lighted the new restrictions "aimed at countering sanctions circumvention and individual listings." The 10th package was adopted on 25 February.
Apparently, Hungary did not veto, while OTP remains on Ukraine's list of the 'international sponsors of war'.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has temporarily removed Greek companies - Dynacom Tankers, Delta Tankers, Thenamaris, Minerva Marine and TMS Tankers - from the list, with the following remark:
"The status is SUSPENDED for the period of bilateral consultations involving representatives of the European Commission."
Companies have previously been added and removed from the list.
OTP has rejected the allegations and explained at length where Kyiv got it all wrong.
Cover photo: Getty Images.
