Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened on Friday to block the next rollover of EU sanctions against Russia unless Brussels helps achieve a restart of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, which was halted on Jan.

Long reputed to be Russia-friendly, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has often railed against the continuation of the EU sanctions, claiming that they impose an intolerable burden on the Hungarian economy and provide no solution for the carnage in Ukraine.

During the informal European Union summit scheduled to take place on Monday, 3 February, in Brussels, leaders may address statements made by new US president Donald Trump concerning Greenland, along with military support for Ukraine under the current geopolitical circumstances.

Czechia is launching a new ammunition procurement initiative for Ukraine, seeking support from EU member states to enhance military assistance.

Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of cooperating with European operators on gas transit to the EU, but it is the European Commission that must decide whether the European side needs such transit and whether it is ready to provide it.

The remaining pipe bringing Russian gas to the bloc is the TurkStream line through Turkey, which provides Hungary with about 7.5bn cubic metres of gas. Budapest, along with the pro-Russian government in Slovakia, have been lobbying the EU to pressure Ukraine into restarting the gas transit.

EU sanctions against Russia are bad, but it's all good when Donald Trump threatens to impose them, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Hungary wants the European Union to persuade Ukraine to resume gas transit from Russia to Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, signalling a tough debate as the EU seeks to extend its sanctions against Russia over the coming week.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Nineteen European Union countries, including France and Germany, are calling for the European Investment Bank to boost lending for the defence industry as the 27-nation EU seeks ways to improve its military against a possible future Russian attack.

"We are requesting the extension [of preferences], but the EU member states need our predictability. Therefore, we proposed an option in which we will export products in line with the schedule and with certain monthly quantities," he said.

Hungary received energy security guarantees from the European Union in exchange for agreeing to extend anti-Russia sanctions for another six months, the Hungarian PM noted