Hungary has requested that the USA exempt the expansion project of the Paks nuclear power plant, which is being carried out by the Russians, from the sanctions imposed by the previous American administration,

Hungary has asked the USA to exempt the project for the expansion of the nuclear power plant in Paks, carried out by the Russians, from the sanctions imposed by the previous American administration, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó stated on Thursday.

In January, Budapest, which has maintained close ties with Moscow through the war, held up the renewal of the economic sanctions that include the immobilisation of Moscow's central bank assets. An agreement was reached after the European Commission agreed to include Hungary in talks about resuming gas transit to the EU through Ukraine.

Hungary has threatened to block the latest package of sanctions against Russia unless it receives guarantees on the resumption of gas supplies through Ukraine.

Hungary's top diplomat vowed on Thursday to delay extending EU sanctions against Russian individuals -- including President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov -- to avoid making Russian-US negotiations "difficult".

Reuters reported that Budapest wants to remove eight individuals from the European Union’s sanctions list against Russia and secure new guarantees regarding negotiations on gas transit through Ukraine before agreeing to extend the restrictions.

Hungary wants the European Union to remove eight individuals from its sanctions list against Russia. In that case, it may support the extension of restrictions, Reuters informs. According to the media outlet,