Kaja Kallas: EU Must Stand Firm Against Russian Threat Despite Hungary’s Obstruction
The European Union is actively preparing a contingency strategy to preserve its sanctions regime against Russia in the event Hungary blocks the renewal of existing measures this July. This confirmation comes from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Financial Times.
Kaja Kallas openly acknowledged that some EU capitals are informally discussing how to respond should a future Donald Trump administration withdraw from the Ukraine peace process and seek rapprochement with Moscow. “It’s evident that such conversations are taking place in certain member states, where there may be a hope that continued support for Ukraine will no longer be necessary,” Kallas said. “But that hope is not only premature – it’s dangerous.”
She warned that Russia’s military ambitions remain a clear threat to European security. “With over 9% of its GDP now dedicated to defense spending, Russia has not shifted course. It is preparing to use its military capabilities again. Turning away now would only embolden it.”
Kallas stressed that the EU’s top priority is to maintain consensus among all 27 member states. However, given Hungary’s repeated obstruction of key EU decisions related to Ukraine and sanctions policy, the Union is exploring fallback options. “There is indeed a Plan B to ensure continued economic pressure on Russia,” she said. “That said, our focus must remain on Plan A because the more we talk about the alternative, the more real it becomes.”
According to diplomatic sources, Plan B may include sanctions imposed on a national level by individual EU states, bypassing the need for unanimous approval. One such option reportedly under discussion is a Belgian royal decree that would authorize the freezing of approximately €190 billion in Russian state assets located in Belgium.
Tensions between Hungary and other EU members have escalated sharply, with growing calls to restrict Budapest’s voting rights under Article 7 of the EU Treaty due to its persistent obstructionism. Hungary has opposed numerous aid packages for Ukraine and has maintained closer relations with Moscow compared to its EU counterparts.
Despite these pressures, EU leadership insists that economic sanctions remain one of the most effective levers to contain Russian aggression and uphold the rules-based international order.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Hungary has blocked unanimous Russia condemnation at the Three Seas Anniversary Summit.