European Union ambassadors are facing delays in approving the 18th sanctions package against Russia due to objections from Hungary and Slovakia. However, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna has stated that a final agreement is expected this week. The delay followed earlier resistance from both nations, despite the previous round of sanctions taking effect in May.
The new restrictions target Russia’s energy and banking sectors, as well as transactions linked to the Nord Stream pipeline project. These measures are part of a broader European effort to tighten pressure on Moscow as it continues to reject calls for an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. The United States has not imposed new sanctions on Russia since President Donald Trump took office in January.
Slovakia, unlike Hungary, has not previously attempted to block new EU measures, but has requested a delay until the bloc clarifies the financial implications of the RePowerEU initiative to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2030. The delay in approval highlights the challenges of achieving consensus within the EU, where a single veto can prevent the implementation of measures.