EU diplomats scramble to overcome Hungary's threat to derail new sanctions on Russia

Source: AP

Updated 8:18 AM EST, February 23, 2026


BRUSSELS (AP) — Germany, France and other European countries vowed their unwavering support for Ukraine on Monday as their diplomats scrambled to finalize new sanctions on Russia and a massive new loan for Kyiv ahead of the fourth anniversary of a war that has left an estimated 1.8 million Russian and Ukrainian soldiers dead, wounded or missing.

They also struggled once again to persuade Hungary to support the latest EU efforts to help Ukraine and to make Russia pay an economic price for the all-out war that it launched against its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022, and which shows no signs of ending. Hungary, seen as the most pro-Russian member of the EU, threatened on the weekend to veto both the sanctions and a major loan meant to help Kyiv meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz marked what he called “four monstrous years of war” at a pro-Ukrainian event in Berlin on Monday. “I appeal again to our European partners — do not let up in your support, in our common support, for Ukraine,” Merz said. “We are standing at a crossroads that could decide on the well-being of our whole continent.”

“No one can say today whether the weapons will fall silent in Ukraine in six weeks, in six months or even later,” Merz said. “But we are working for them to fall silent as quickly as possible.” In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that “our determination to continue supporting Ukraine is unwavering.” He met with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, another staunch supporter of Ukraine who urged European allies to raise the costs on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/brussels-ukraine-hungary-russia-sanctions-druzhba-d2519443e9542593f9a70cd22f18a6ab