Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told European Union leaders that he wants to wait until the inauguration of his ally Donald Trump before deciding whether to extend the bloc’s sanctions against Russia,

The European Union on Monday imposed for the first time sanctions on individuals and organizations thought to be responsible for Russia's attempts to interfere in political processes abroad. "These measures are in response to Russia’s malicious actions and its lack of respect for a rules-based international order and international law,

Orban "surprised" his fellow EU leaders by deciding to block the extension during a summit in Brussels on Dec. 19 in what is considered a "routine" step, Bloomberg wrote.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán informed European Union leaders of his intention to wait for the inauguration of new US President Donald Trump before deciding whether to continue the EU sanctions against Russia.