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Words of disagreement: Brussels will change the 20th package of sanctions against Russia
The European Union failed, as planned, to agree on the 20th package of anti-Russian restrictions by February 24. Now, for the sake of consensus in Brussels, they are ready to change their content, a European source told Izvestia. The split in the EU is deepening: Greece, Spain, Italy and Malta are dissatisfied with individual points of the proposals, while Hungary blocked the entire package due to the conflict with Ukraine over the Druzhba oil pipeline. Experts believe that opponents of sanctions will be able to negotiate individual exceptions for themselves, but the 20th package will still be adopted. Although such pressure tactics will still not help the EU to gain a place in the negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement.
Why the EU could not agree on the 20th package of sanctions
The European Commission's plan to approve a new package of anti-Russian restrictions by February 24 has failed. Over the past week, EU ambassadors have been working on its approval, but it has not been possible to achieve full agreement.
"This is a step back and a message that we didn't want to send today, but work continues," said a disappointed Kaya Kallas after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Although it was not possible to approve the 20th package of sanctions, the European Commissioner for Foreign Policy has already announced new restrictions. Kallas said that the number of the Russian diplomatic mission to the EU should not exceed 40 people. In addition, Brussels plans to ban entry to Europe for all participants of its. The head of the European diplomacy did not provide details.
The European Commission will adjust the content of the new package of sanctions against Russia, a diplomatic source in Brussels told Izvestia. According to him, some controversial anti-Russian restrictions may be excluded from it.
— The text has already been changed several times and will be updated again. It is impossible to exclude the rejection of some points. Negotiations will continue until the package is approved," the source told Izvestia.
According to media reports, Greece, Spain, Italy and Malta have made claims to certain provisions. And at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Hungary blocked the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions, said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. He claims that Kiev has colluded with officials from Brussels and opposition forces in Hungary to endanger the country's energy security. Moreover, according to Szijjarto, EU countries want to send Hungarian and Slovak soldiers to Ukraine, while both Budapest and Bratislava have repeatedly opposed this decision.
Hungary's position became tougher after Ukraine cut off oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline in late January. According to official statements from Kiev, its work has been suspended due to damage to the infrastructure. However, Budapest and Bratislava are confident that the cessation of supplies is a tool of blackmail. Recall that it is precisely because of this that the Hungarian government is blocking the process of Ukraine's European integration. In this situation, Hungary and Slovakia began negotiations on pumping oil through Croatia, and also switched to using state reserves.
In addition, the authorities of these countries have stopped the supply of diesel fuel to Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that if the Ukrainian side asks Bratislava for help in stabilizing the Ukrainian energy network, it will not receive it. At the same time, in January 2026 alone, these emergency supplies were needed to stabilize the Ukrainian energy network twice as much as in the whole of 2025. The Budapest representative also blocked the approval of the EU loan for Ukraine in the amount of €90 billion.
"Our Slovak colleague and I were severely attacked, but we persevered and made it clear that we would not change our position until the Ukrainians resumed full oil supplies," Szijjarto said.
The approval of anti-Russian restrictions requires unanimity in the EU Council. Therefore, so far attempts to adopt the next package have failed because of Hungary's position. Budapest and Bratislava are often the main opponents of these initiatives. They use their veto to bargain for exceptions or deferrals from the execution of decisions. For example, this is how Viktor Orban's government protected the Paks-2 nuclear power plant project with Russia from restrictions.
— Now the situation is more acute than usual due to the accumulation of serious contradictions in relations with Ukraine, as well as the approaching elections in Hungary. Taking into account the tactics of Orban and the Fidesz party, built on Eurosceptic and anti—Ukrainian rhetoric, it is quite possible to expect non-standard solutions," Egor Sergeev, a senior researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies, told Izvestia.
Germany volunteered to convince the Hungarian side, as German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl has already stated. Previously, it was Berlin that made active efforts to coordinate negotiations with opponents of the adoption of sanctions against the Russian Federation. For example, last year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held several telephone conversations with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, when the latter refused to support the 18th and 19th packages of sanctions.
Will the EU ban the transportation of Russian oil
In addition to the conflict over the Druzhba oil pipeline, another stumbling block was the EC's proposal to completely ban the provision of services for the maritime transportation of Russian oil. If such a measure is taken, European businesses will no longer be able to provide services for the maintenance, supply, financing and insurance of tankers that transport Russian oil, no matter under whose flag they sail.
Within the European Union, such measures worry Greece and Malta, which play an active role in the maritime transportation of resources. However, Brussels' proposal did not arouse enthusiasm among its G7 allies either.
According to media reports, the United States refused to commit to synchronizing sanctions with the EU. Unlike Brussels, Washington has decided, at least for now, to refrain from new anti-Russian restrictions and to engage in dialogue with Moscow. Trade contradictions are also growing between the EU and the USA. In particular, Brussels intends to freeze the approval of the trade agreement concluded last year.
The remaining members of the G7 (Great Britain, Canada and Japan) allowed joining the EU sanctions in the future, but did not make clear promises.
The opposition of Greece and Malta may force the EC to change the proposed measures. At the same time, it is possible that Brussels will offer these countries additional benefits or a transition period in order to achieve their agreement. In addition to the ships, the EU leadership is discussing the inclusion of ports of third countries in the sanctions lists. In this way, Brussels will send a signal to the world that a new trend has emerged in the sanctions policy, when an entire port, and not just individual companies or ships, can fall under blocking sanctions, Ekaterina Arapova, deputy dean of the MGIMO Faculty of International Relations, told Izvestia.
— Of all the measures currently being discussed in the context of the 20th package, only a possible ban on the maritime transportation of Russian oil can cause short-term damage to the Russian economy until the adaptation process is completed. All other measures discussed will be much more damaging to the economies of the EU countries than to Russia, the expert believes.
According to her, the European Union underestimates the countermeasures that Russia can take. For example, Moscow will ensure the safety of ships carrying Russian energy resources. The Baltic states, as well as the Scandinavian states, which are the most ardent supporters of the most stringent measures, do not fully understand the escalation that attempts to restrict Russian trade can lead to.
— Sanctions cannot be expanded or strengthened indefinitely. The European economy is in a state of stagnation, losing competitiveness and suffering from deindustrialization. Now we are witnessing protests from key economic actors, such as industry representatives, who criticize the inadequate economic policies of EU governments," Luxembourg MEP Fernand Kartheiser said in an interview with Izvestia.
The politician concluded that Europe lacks the leverage to influence Russia to achieve concrete political results. Despite all the sanctions and other restrictive measures, the EU has not been able to secure a place at the negotiating table in Abu Dhabi or Geneva.
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