Blocking of the 18th Russia Sanctions Package: Hungary and Slovakia Opposition Delays Agreement
Within the framework of the European Union's sanctions regime against the Russian Federation, the 18th package of new restrictions intended to intensify economic pressure on the Kremlin encountered significant obstacles. According to sources within diplomatic circles who preferred to remain anonymous, it appears the European community is at a crossroads due to pressure from certain member states. Specifically, Hungary and Slovakia have managed to maintain their blocking positions through their stringent stance on gas embargoes and additional sanctions. A high-level diplomatic source reported that during the EU ambassadors' meeting this week, particularly on Friday, the decision to approve the new sanctions package was effectively halted. This was due to the active stance of these two countries — Slovakia demanded guarantees from the European Commission regarding the consequences of abandoning Russian gas, which was previously scheduled for 2028, while Hungary expressed opposition without proposing specific conditions. This situation means that discussions around the 18th sanctions package are currently suspended and are unlikely to resume before a formal visit by the European Commission delegation to Bratislava, scheduled for July 3. Experts and diplomatic circles see this development as highlighting the tension and complexity involved in implementing a unified EU sanctions policy against Russia, especially concerning energy issues and the need to balance economic security with the political interests of individual member states.