Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened on Friday to block the next rollover of EU sanctions against Russia unless Brussels helps achieve a restart of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, which was halted on Jan.

Long reputed to be Russia-friendly, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has often railed against the continuation of the EU sanctions, claiming that they impose an intolerable burden on the Hungarian economy and provide no solution for the carnage in Ukraine.

Russia claims to have regained control of a town in the Kursk area that was previously held by Ukrainian troops. The European Union maintains sanctions against Russia for the war in Ukraine. This decision was made by the representatives of the Twenty-Seven on Monday,

Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of cooperating with European operators on gas transit to the EU, but it is the European Commission that must decide whether the European side needs such transit and whether it is ready to provide it.

Some EU officials are considering resuming Russian pipeline gas imports as part of a potential peace agreement with Ukraine, sparking controversy and opposition within the bloc.

Hungary wants the European Union to intervene in a gas dispute it has with Ukraine, a potential sign of friction in the bloc’s upcoming discussions over renewing sanctions against Russia.