(Adnkronos) – Representatives of EU member states have formalized the renewal of sectoral sanctions against Russia for the war in Ukraine, agreed last night at the end of the European Council. Diplomatic sources report this. The sanctions are renewed for six months, starting from the expiry date, i.e. until 31 January 2026.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever explained last night that the renewal of sectoral sanctions had been previously discussed with Hungary, which did not object, and was approved without discussion. “At the end of the summit, when everyone was leaving the room, President Antonio Costa said ‘I forgot one small thing, the renewal of sanctions” against Moscow. “The point was approved in total silence,” he reported.
As for the eighteenth package of measures against Russia, which should include, among other things, energy measures in the “financial and energy” field, as French President Emmanuel Macron explained, Slovakia has confirmed that it cannot yet give its assent, due to the well-founded concerns it has about gas supplies. Contacts between the Commission and Bratislava will continue.
Coreper should return to the point once bilateral contacts have allowed Slovakia to lift its reservation, perhaps at the end of next week. De Wever said he was “optimistic” that Bratislava’s reservations, which can be “understood” as it is a landlocked country, can be overcome, because similar dynamics had also been seen with previous packages, all of which have been approved.
