Polish FM criticizes Hungary's stance on Russia, accuses it of lacking 'moral clarity'
Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Hungary on April 14 for being the only EU member state lacking "moral clarity" on Russia's war against Ukraine.
After the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting earlier that day, Sikorski noted that many foreign ministers called for stronger sanctions against Moscow in response to recent attacks on Ukrainian cities including Sumy and Kryvyi Rih.
"But we know we have one country – Hungary – that lacks the moral clarity we have in light of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's attacks. He (Putin) talks about peace while bombing civilians and killing children,' he said, as reported by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Sikorski also condemned Hungary's continued blocking of military aid for Ukraine and delaying EU accession talks, saying that trying to negotiate with Budapest is "like talking to a brick wall."
Hungary maintains positive relations with Russia in contrast with other EU members.
On March 26, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto visited Moscow to discuss continued economic cooperation between the two countries.
Read also: Hungary should decide on Ukraine's EU bid via referendum, Orban's rival says
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US tariff turmoil makes Spain's flagship foods seek other markets
It's lunchtime in a bar in the southern Spanish city of Seville. The kitchen is humming with activity, and behind the bar a member of staff pours cold beer from a tap into a glass. Nearby, another uses a carving knife to cut slices from a large leg of jamón ibérico, or Iberian ham, placing each one on a plate, to be served as an appetiser. There are few more Spanish scenes. And there are few more Spanish products than jamón ibérico, whose unique salty flavour is renowned across the world, and part of a national cured ham industry worth nearly €750m ($850m; £630m) each year in exports. As he watches the jamón being carved, Jaime Fernández, international commercial director for the Grupo Osborne, which produces wine, sherry and the renowned Cinco Jotas brand of ham, describes it as a "flagship" national foodstuff. "It's one of the most iconic gastronomic products from Spain," he says, pointing out how the pigs used to make the ham are reared in the wild and fed on acorns. "It represents our tradition, our culture, our essence." Winemakers finding Trump's tariffs hard to swallow Trump agrees to extend EU trade talks after 50% tariff threat But jamón ibérico, like products across Spain and the rest of Europe, is facing the threat of trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. There was no tariff on Spanish ham exports to the US until April of this year, when a 20% charge on all European imports was suddenly introduced, dropping to 10% pending negotiations. However, in May Trump unsettled European exporters again when he said that the tariff for all EU goods could rise as high as 50% if trade talks with Brussels do not come to a successful agreement. The current deadline for this is 9 July. "The United States is one of our top, priority markets," says Mr Fernández. "The uncertainty is there, and it complicates our medium-and long-term planning, investments and commercial development." The tariffs, he adds, "pose a threat to our industry." 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