EU divided over new Russia sanctions as member states push back

Passing the 21st package turned out to be an extremely difficult task

Ukraine had expected that after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán left office, the process of adopting new sanctions against Russia would become much easier. Instead, even more obstacles have emerged, reports Politico.

According to insider information, EU ambassadors will once again try to agree on the next package of sanctions against Russia on July 22 — the first since Orbán left office.

Member states have already weakened or removed several key restrictions in an effort to protect their own interests in the energy, fish processing, banking, and shipping sectors.

The reason is that Budapest had previously been the main obstacle to adopting new restrictions, but now individual countries are being forced to openly defend their own economic interests.

"It has been a surprise and a disappointment how many member states have stalled in their actions. It is of utmost importance to continue strengthening the EU sanctions against Russia in this moment when Russia is starting to feel the pressure of the war in its domestic economy and in public perception," complained Finnish Member of the European Parliament Ville Niinistö.

For example, Greece opposes the 21st sanctions package because of the proposed ban on European companies transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries.

According to the journalists, the negotiations have also become more complicated due to Austria's intervention on behalf of Raiffeisen, the country's second-largest bank. The financial institution has long been seeking compensation for what it considers the illegal expropriation of its €2.44 billion in assets in Russia.

Bulgaria does not support sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, or restrictions targeting former Russian military personnel.

France and Italy have also opposed restrictions on former Russian servicemen. They said the mechanism for identifying the individuals who would be subject to these measures is not yet ready for practical implementation. As a result, the relevant provisions of the sanctions package were significantly softened.

Earlier, we explainedwhy the EU reached a deadlock over new sanctions against Russia.

On July 15, EU ambassadors once again failed to reach an agreement on adopting the 21st package of sanctions against Russia.

Moreover, Trump wants to change the proposed bone-crushing sanctions package against Russia.