EU fails to agree on extending sanctions against Russia

European Union member states have not yet reached agreement on extending sanctions imposed on Russia. Talks have stalled due to a dispute triggered by Slovakia's position.

Slovakia's demand

Slovakia has requested that two Russian oligarchs currently subject to EU restrictions be removed from the sanctions list. This demand has become the main obstacle preventing the other member states from agreeing on extending the sanctions package as a whole.

What happens next

Since EU sanctions decisions require unanimous support from all member states, objections from a single country can halt the entire process. It remains unclear when, or whether, member states will be able to find a compromise that would allow the sanctions to be extended while also addressing Slovakia's concerns regarding the two oligarchs.