European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to extend sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine after Hungary lifted its opposition to the move.

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.

European Union ambassadors are meeting in Brussels to address a Hungarian block on extending sanctions on Russia. Hungary's agreement is crucial for passing a statement on energy security and ensuring the continuation of sanctions.

Strengthening competitiveness is crucial, Hungary's European Union Affairs minister emphasized in a post on his social media page.

Budapest city council is locked in a power struggle with the national Hungarian government over the development of a derelict industrial area near the city centre.

Before relenting, Budapest had threatened to allow billions of dollars to flow back to the Kremlin in a row over energy imports.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expected the bloc to renew its sanctions on Russia on Monday after Hungary signalled it would stop holding up the move in return for assurances about energy security.

Hungary's foreign minister said on Monday Budapest would "soon" see if it will get guarantees from the European Commission to protect its energy supply.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Tuesday said his Government would not enforce the European Union’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for individuals holding Georgian diplomatic passports.

The breakout success of Chinese DeepSeek has shaken the US’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. But although it might seem like a two-horse race between the US and China, the EU was the first region in the world to have created a legal framework for AI and is starting to massively invest in supercomputing and innovation.

Hungary wants the European Union to persuade Ukraine to resume gas transit from Russia to Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, signalling a tough debate as the EU seeks to extend its sanctions against Russia over the coming week.