European ambassadors were unable to reach a consensus on implementing the new, 18th sanctions package against the Russian Federation. As correspondent Rikard Juzwiak noted, discussions on this issue have been postponed until next week.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Today, EU ambassadors did not give the green light for the sanctions package against Russia. They will return to this issue next week,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Slovakia’s Position Delays Sanction Agreement
According to journalists, Slovakia received certain guarantees from the European Commission regarding the gradual cessation of the use of Russian energy resources by the end of 2027. However, Bratislava continues to express concerns about the country’s energy security, as it is heavily dependent on gas and oil supplies from Russia. Slovakia demands clear solutions from Brussels that will help avoid an energy crisis in the country in the event of a complete abandonment of Russian energy carriers.
New Sanctions Package: What Was Proposed
On June 26, during the EU summit, the leaders of the member states gave political approval for the continuation of existing sanctions against Russia. However, the agreement on the new package of restrictions, initiated by the European Commission, has been halted due to Slovakia’s position. The proposed restrictions primarily concern the energy and banking sectors of the Russian Federation.
Thus, the final decision regarding the 18th sanctions package will depend on further negotiations among EU member states, as well as additional guarantees for Slovakia in the area of energy security.