EU May Extend Sanctions Against Russia for a Year as Hungary and Slovakia No Longer Object
The European Union is likely to extend sectoral sanctions against Russia for 12 months instead of the usual 6, as Hungary and Slovakia have dropped their objections. The formal extension will take place later this summer.
EU May Extend Sanctions Against Russia for a Year as Hungary and Slovakia No Longer Object
The European Union is expected to agree to extend sectoral sanctions against Russia for a full year, rather than the standard six months, as no member states currently oppose the move. This was reported by Rikard Jozwiak, a Europe correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing his sources.
In a post on X, Jozwiak stated that on June 18, EU leaders will likely decide to prolong the sanctions for 12 months. “It seems that Hungary and Slovakia have no objections. The first such formal extension will happen later this summer,” he wrote.
Previously, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary regularly blocked EU sanctions and other decisions, often joined by Slovakia, demanding various concessions. Currently, a stumbling block in the work on the 21st sanctions package against Russia is Bulgaria’s position, which objects to the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill on the sanctions list.
The move to extend sanctions for a year reflects a stronger EU stance against Russia, especially given past blocking attempts.
