Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced his intention to hold a referendum on sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia in connection with its military operation against Ukraine.

Orbán said in a press statement: “The Hungarian government will be the first in Europe to ask its citizens for their opinion on sanctions against Russia,” adding that the issue of deciding on sanctions was not “democratic.”

The Hungarian Prime Minister did not specify when the referendum would be organized.

The position of the Budapest authorities is not new, as they have repeatedly declared their rejection of the sanctions imposed against Russia, and were able to negotiate an exemption from the expected European embargo on Russian oil.

On Sunday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Petr Szijjarto confirmed that “Budapest will not support a new package of sanctions that the European Union could impose on Moscow amid referendums on the annexation of eastern Ukraine if it affects his country’s cooperation with Russia in this area.” energy.”