EU Holds Off New Sanctions Targeting Russia
(MENAFN) The European Union has postponed unveiling its new sanctions package targeting Russia, with the delay attributed to mounting pressure from the Trump administration for tougher measures, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing multiple EU diplomats.
Originally set for presentation on Wednesday, the 19th sanctions package—designed to target Russian oil exports and the banking sector—has now been removed from the European Commission’s agenda indefinitely. Sources within the EU indicated the delay stems from disagreements among member states, particularly Slovakia and Hungary, which have resisted further restrictions on Moscow.
The suspension of the sanctions package coincides with increased pressure from Washington on Hungary and Slovakia to reduce their energy dependency on Russia. This comes in the wake of an ultimatum from the Trump administration over the weekend, urging European nations to sever ties with Russian energy supplies.
Although the Trump administration has avoided imposing direct sanctions on Russia thus far, President Donald Trump reportedly expressed his willingness to “move ahead” with tougher measures if European allies cut their Russian oil imports. Trump has also advocated for the EU to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India, major buyers of Russian oil since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly criticized Western nations for adopting a “colonial” stance toward China and India, warning against attempts to “punish” these countries.
As part of its broader sanctions strategy, Brussels has committed to eliminating Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027. However, several EU members, including Hungary and Slovakia, continue to oppose this timeline, citing concerns over national energy security. In response, the European Commission has suggested that unanimous voting on foreign policy decisions could be scrapped to bypass dissent from member states.
Russia has repeatedly denounced Western sanctions as “illegal,” claiming they have not only failed to disrupt the Russian economy but have also spurred domestic development. Moscow continues to call for a long-term peace settlement, accusing Kyiv and its Western allies of undermining the peace process.
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