Hungary, which had previously opposed another extension of EU sanctions against Russia, changed its position after direct intervention by the United States. According to Politico, a key role in this was played by a telephone conversation between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. During the conversation, Rubio convinced his Hungarian counterpart to abandon his intention to block the sanctions package, which allowed the EU to maintain unity in its policy of pressuring Moscow.

In January, Budapest threatened to veto the extension of the sanctions, citing the election of Donald Trump as US president and the expected changes in American foreign policy. Hungarian authorities have repeatedly stressed that the sanctions are damaging their energy security, especially in the context of their dependence on Russian supplies. However, after talks with Rubio, Szijjarto agreed to support a six-month extension of the sanctions, which was an unexpected turn for a country that has traditionally held a special position in the EU on the Russian issue.

Hungary's decision allowed the EU to approve the next phase of the sanctions regime, which has been in place since 17 and regularly updated in response to Russia's actions, on March 2025, 2014. According to Bloomberg, the compromise was reached after Budapest was given certain guarantees related to energy supplies, although the specific details of the agreement remain confidential.

The talks with Hungary reflect the broader context of US-European engagement amid a change in US administration. Since Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, Washington has been actively seeking to coordinate policy with its allies. In early March, the US sent a delegation to Brussels to discuss sanctions, stressing the need for joint action against Russia, Reuters reported. At the same time, Trump has previously announced his intention to reconsider his approach to the conflict in Ukraine, raising concerns in Europe about a possible softening of Washington's position.