Putin decree and Kyiv's Hungary accusations, 4 May 2022
A look back at the diplomatic and sanctions developments reported in the days before 4 May 2022, from a Russian decree on 'unfriendly' entities to a dispute between Kyiv and Budapest.
What was the state of the war's diplomacy and economic confrontation on 4 May 2022? Reports from the preceding days pointed to stalled talks, a new Russian decree and an open row between Ukraine and Hungary.
On 3 May 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that would allow the Russian government to terminate business and exports with entities and people it deemed "unfriendly". The measure was part of the international sanctions confrontation that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The same day, Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that Russia was ready to continue peace negotiations with Ukraine. The assurance came amid fears that talks between the two countries had stalled.
A dispute with Budapest
On 2 May 2022, Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, accused Hungary of having had advance knowledge of the Russian invasion. He said Putin had warned Hungary, and that Hungary had plans to annex parts of Western Ukraine. The reports did not include a response in the material gathered here.
Taken together, the reports from 2 and 3 May 2022 show three tracks running in parallel: Moscow's economic countermeasures, its public insistence that negotiations could continue despite doubts about their progress, and a sharp accusation from Kyiv directed at a neighbouring country.
