The bloc’s foreign affairs chief said she was “really sad” the 18th round of sanctions fell through
The EU has failed to adopt a new package of anti-Russia sanctions, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday, expressing hope that the restrictive measures will ultimately be approved this week.
The sanctions package was discussed at a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, but remains blocked by Slovakia, Kallas stated. To pass the package, unanimous approval from all 27 member states is required.
“I am really sad that we did not reach this agreement today. I must say that we were really close. To reassure Slovakia, the Commission has delivered what they asked for. Now the ball is in Slovakia’s court, and we must get this deal done. It has been already two months,” the EU’s top diplomat said.
Bratislava has repeatedly obstructed the sanctions package, insisting its concerns over the separate RePowerEU plan be addressed first. Hungary, Austria, and reportedly Italy have also opposed the initiative that aims to completely phase out Russian energy imports by 2028.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico harshly criticized the proposal on Monday, arguing that it would severely harm both his country and the EU as a whole.
“The [European] Commission’s proposal is, excuse my language, imbecilic. Demagogically, it is the result of a limitless obsession with Russia,” Fico stated.
The prime minister also dismissed a letter from his Czech counterpart, Petr Fiala, urging him to support the EU’s 18th sanctions package. Fico said he would not relent until Slovakia receives “the necessary guarantees that after January 1, 2028, Slovakia will have sufficient gas supplies at reasonable prices.”
While Russian gas has not been subject to a direct EU ban, most member states have voluntarily reduced imports. However, some landlocked countries – including Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic – still rely on limited volumes through exemptions. Bratislava and Budapest also receive much of their oil from Russia.