Exclusive: Hungary signals readiness to sanction Russia’s Patriarch Kirill

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The new Hungarian government has signalled its readiness to allow the European Union to sanction Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, and other individuals whom former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had protected, Euronews can confirm.

The move can pave the way for one of the most influential religious figures in Russia, with considerable political clout, to be added to the bloc’s blacklist. A “mini” package of sanctions is already under preparation, officials said.

The EU first tried to blacklist Kirill in 2022, accusing him of supporting the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and spreading revisionist propaganda. But Hungary, under Orbán, blocked the move, calling it an issue of religious freedom.

Brussels hopes that Orbán’s successor, Péter Magyar, will now allow the decision. Magyar is keen to distance himself from Orbán’s notorious use of veto power.

“Sanctions which would undermine Hungary’s economic stability are an absolute no-go,” Márton Hajdu, a close ally of Magyar who chairs the foreign affairs committee of the Hungarian parliament, told Euronews.

“But in cases where the previous government used the power of the Hungarian State to cut private deals, I expect the new government not to block joint EU efforts at increasing the pressure on Russia to end this war.”

Other Russian individuals were initially added to the sanctions list but were subsequently removed at Orbán’s insistence, notably Sports MinisterMikhail Degtyaryov and oligarch Viatcheslav Kantor. They could now be put back on the table.

“Revising names is not unusual,” an EU diplomatic source told Euronews.

Sanctions rely on unanimity, and the list of proposed names can change as negotiations advance. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has also used his veto to spare some Russian individuals, was not in office when the EU tried to blacklist Kirill in 2022.

‘Shadow fleet’ under scrutiny

Additionally, the proposal in the works, which is limited in size, aims to target a handful of the “shadow fleet” vessels that Russia uses to bypass Western restrictions on oil sales.

The “shadow fleet” has been accused of sailing under false flags and substandard insurance, engaging in sabotage, and threatening the environment. In recent months, several countries, such as France, Sweden, and Poland, have boarded suspected ships, showing a greater determination to crack down on the circumvention.

High Representative Kaja Kallas has urged the EU to act more swiftly against the “shadow fleet”, without waiting for a fully-fledged sanctions package.

“We have also taken the approach that we are working regarding the sanctions on the ‘shadow fleet’ on a rolling basis, so we are not putting together big packages, but as soon as we know about the ships, we are going to put them on,” she said last month.

As a result, the EU will begin targeting “shadow fleet” vessels and specific individuals on a rolling basis, a novelty in the bloc’s way of working.

Ambassadors are scheduled to have a first discussion on the proposal on Friday, with the aim of adopting it at the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 June.

The 21st package of economic sanctions is expected to be presented in June, with the aspiration of final approval by 15 July.

Seizing on the post-Orbán momentum, the EU is also considering changing the period of sanctions renewal from six months to one year, something that the Hungarian prime minister vehemently opposed to retain its veto leverage.