Europe ‘Shot Itself in the Lungs’ With Sanctions on Russia, Orban Says

Europe ‘Shot Itself in the Lungs’ With Sanctions on Russia, Orban Says
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban walks at a main meeting room ahead of European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, on June 23, 2022. Johanna Geron/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

BUDAPEST—The European Union has “shot itself in the lungs” with ill-considered economic sanctions on Russia, which, unless rolled back, risk destroying the European economy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.

Gas supplies to Europe have tightened and fuel costs have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and subsequent sanctions, leaving countries scrambling to refill storage and diversify supply channels.