Poland’s prime minister has blamed Germany for the EU’s failure to impose tougher sanctions on Russia.

Mateusz Morawiecki said Hungary was supportive of new measures despite Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s closeness with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said: “It’s Germany that is the main roadblock on sanctions. Hungary is for the sanctions.”

Germany’s defence minister said yesterday that the EU must discuss banning the import of Russian gas – a significant shift given that the chancellor has previously opposed the move due to economic concerns.

Mr Morawiecki also said it was important to respect the outcome of the Hungarian elections, which saw Mr Orban re-elected.

Earlier the Hungarian prime minister was criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being “virtually the only one in Europe to openly support Mr Putin”.

“The whole of Europe is trying to stop the war, to restore peace,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

“Then why is official Budapest opposed to the whole of Europe, to all civilized countries?”