EU Confronts Opponent Within, Who’s Bolstered by Putin’s Oil

The European Union unleashed an unprecedented punishment on one of its own, signaling that patience has worn out with Hungary -- and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s determination to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while eschewing the democratic values of the bloc, makes the move all the more resonant.

But Hungary claimed it was ready to abide by the EU’s requirements in order to unlock both reconstruction and cohesion funds and would strike a deal with the bloc before year-end, Justice Minister Judit Varga said in a Facebook post late Monday.