The Hungarian premier has repeatedly called for the end of Russian sanctions. One of the E.U.’s closest Trump allies, Orban has backed the U.S. president’s ambition to end the war swiftly, asserting that the new administration was poised to cut off aid to Ukraine.

The European Union faced the reluctance of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to sign the extension of sanctions against Russia. Sanctions are meant to be renewed every six months, with the current term ending on January 31,