Despite proximity to Russia

Hungary and Slovakia are “unfriendly states”

The two heads of government Viktor Orbán (Hungary) and Robert Fico (Slovakia) are considered "Putin friends" in the EU. Nevertheless, their countries are considered "unfriendly" by the Kremlin.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ludovic MARIN)

Despite their proximity to Russia and opposition to military aid for Ukraine, Moscow considers Slovakia and Hungary to be "unfriendly states". This means that Russian sanctions also apply to them.

"Despite the determination of these countries to maintain a number of useful practices in strategically important sectors of their trade and economic relations with Russia, and despite their focus on maintaining a bilateral political dialogue, Budapest and Bratislava are forced to submit to bloc discipline, including anti-Russian restrictions, due to their membership in the European Union and NATO," the Foreign Ministry in Moscow emphasizes. "Therefore, there are no sufficient grounds for a review of their current status."

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does not want to remove either Slovakia or Hungary from the list of "unfriendly states", but recognizes their efforts to engage in political dialogue.

(Bild: APA/AP)

Hungary only added to the list later
The Russian government adopted the list shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree prohibiting investors from "unfriendly" countries from selling shares in certain key industries such as the energy sector and banks without his express permission.

This list currently includes 46 countries and territories: all EU member states including Austria as well as Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. Slovakia has been on the list since July 2022, while Hungary was only added in March 2023.