Orban: EU ‘Shot Itself in the Lungs’ with Sanctions Against Russia

Despite all the bluster and anti-Russian rhetoric, it appears that Europe’s supposed ‘united front’ on sanctions against Russia is gradually crumbling. While Germany mulls over how to rescue their industry and economy from the disastrous policy direction they chose in the wake of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in late February, other EU countries are now openly rebelling over the collective economic suicide pact they signed on to, at the behest of Washington and NATO. 

Already, signs are showing that the EU may soon fail to agree on the next package of economic sanctions against Moscow. Front and center in this battle is Hungary…

Euronews reports…

The European Union has “shot itself in the lungs” with ill-considered economic sanctions on Russia, which, unless rolled back, risk destroying the European economy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.

The surge in gas and electricity prices forced nationalist Orban to curtail a years-long cap on utility prices for higher-usage households on Wednesday, rolling back one of the 59-year-old prime minister’s signature economic policies.

“Initially, I thought we had only shot ourselves in the foot, but now it is clear that the European economy has shot itself in the lungs, and it is gasping for air,” Orban, a long-time sanctions critic, told public radio in an interview.

Orban said Ukraine needed help, but European leaders should reconsider their strategy, as sanctions have caused widespread damage to the European economy without weakening Russia or bringing the months-long war closer to any resolution.

All EU sanctions packages require agreement among the 27 member states. While Hungary has voted to endorse the sanctions, they objected to the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church and got him excluded from the sixth sanctions package.

Gas supplies to Europe have tightened and fuel costs have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February, leaving countries scrambling to refill storage and diversify supply channels.

“The sanctions do not help Ukraine, however, they are bad for the European economy and if it goes on like this, they will kill off the European economy,” Orban said. “What we see right now is unbearable”…

Continue this story at Euronews

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