"Budapest and Bratislava (due to their membership in the European Union and NATO) are forced to observe the discipline of the bloc, reminds the Russian foreign ministry.

Currently, there is no sufficient reason for Hungary and Slovakia to be removed from the list on which Russia maintains the countries classified as "unfriendly" towards it, along with their readiness to continue political relations with Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

According to the ministry, the two countries continue to observe the discipline of the Western bloc and respect the anti-Russian sanctions, although they are ready to continue political relations with Moscow.

According to Decree No. 430 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated March 5, 2022, Hungary and Slovakia were added to the list of countries and territories that have taken hostile actions against the Russian Federation, Russian legal entities and private individuals.

Despite the fact that these countries try to keep a series of useful results in the strategically important areas of trade and economic relations with Russia, and also seek to support bilateral political dialogue, Budapest and Bratislava - given their membership in the European Union and NATO - are forced to comply with the bloc's discipline, including anti-Russian restrictions. For this reason, there is no sufficient reason to review the current legal status," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The list created by the Russian government's decree of March 2022 - after the start of the war in Ukraine - includes countries that have introduced unilateral restrictive measures against Russia.

As EU member states, Hungary and Slovakia participated in the introduction of the sanctions, and were added to the list accordingly, the Russian Ministry of Finance reminded.

In addition to the 27 EU member states, the list also includes Australia, Albania, Great Britain, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, North Macedonia, the United States, Taiwan, Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland and Japan.

MTI

Cover image: The building of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Source: Wikipedia