The European Union intends to forge ahead with a new package of sanctions against Russia to exert greater pressure on Vladimir Putin to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, despite the United States not doing so at this stage.
But the sanctions face an uphill struggle to be approved due to Hungary's steadfast opposition and lack of coordination with Washington. The course of action envisioned by Brussels includes tightening the price cap on Russian crude oil, which might be virtually impossible to achieve without the US joining in.
