The European Union renewed on Monday its wide-ranging sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, after Hungary stopped holding up the move in return for a declaration on energy security. "Europe delivers: EU Foreign Ministers just agreed to extend again the sanctions on Russia,

"EU foreign ministers just agreed to extend again the sanctions on Russia. This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war," the bloc's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X. The EU's 27 states have to agree unanimously to extend the sanctions every six months and the next deadline was looming on January 31.

Hungary, one of Russia’s main friends in the EU, had left its EU counterparts fuming over a refusal so far to approve the move.

The foreign ministers of the EU member states, who met today in Brussels in the format of the EU Council, agreed to extend sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine. — Ukrinform.

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.

In an address to EU lawmakers, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged the 27-nation bloc to 'take control' of its own security.

EU foreign ministers were in Brussels to discuss lifting some sanctions on Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad's regime. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Hungary could drop its veto on Russian sanctions.

The European Union on Monday offered 30 million euros ($32 million) in emergency aid to help buy gas for Moldova's separatist Transnistria region after Russia cut off supplies.

Hungary has stopped delaying the renewal of European sanctions on Moscow, which may have detrimental consequences on its relationship with Russia.

As the EU agrees to extend sanctions on Russia by another six months, the Russian Defence Ministry has said its forces have occupied the east Ukrainian town of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region,

EU foreign ministers were in Brussels to discuss lifting some sanctions on Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad's regime. Foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc "aimed to move fast."