Brussels, July 1, (dpa/GNA) – The European Union has extended its current tough economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2026, due to a lack of progress over peace in Ukraine.
These are existing measures, and are separate to an 18th package of sanctions against Russia, which is being prepared by the EU. The new measures require unanimous support from member states, and Slovakia has so far withheld its agreement.
Bratislava is demanding a promise that it will be compensated if a plan by the EU Commission to stop Russian gas imports, leads to economic damage in Slovakia.
Extending the current sanctions, has in contrast been agreed relatively smoothly.
“As long as the illegal actions by the Russian Federation continue to violate fundamental rules of international law, in particular, the prohibition on the use of force, it is appropriate to maintain in force all the measures imposed by the EU,” representatives of EU member states said in a statement issued in Brussels on Monday.
The sanctions continue to be a response to “Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal military aggression against Ukraine,” which is in its fourth year.
For weeks, there had been fears that Hungary could block the decision. It had argued that giving Russia some leeway could boost peace efforts being pushed by US President Donald Trump.
He is counting on his good relationship with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to try to engineer a deal and initially demanded concessions from Ukraine in exchange for a ceasefire.
The US wants Ukraine to abandon its ambitions for rapid NATO membership, and accept that part of its territory will remain under Russian control permanently.
The EU’s existing economic sanctions against Russia include restrictions on trade, finance, energy, industry, transport and luxury goods. There is also a ban on imports of Russian crude oil by sea, and several Russian banks have been disconnected from the Swift financial communications system.
GNA