The European Union failed to pass its 18th sanctions package against Russia on Tuesday, as resistance from Slovakia held up the deal, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
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Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas expressed disappointment but remained optimistic that a resolution could be reached soon. “I’m really sad it didn’t get approved today,” she said, “but I hope we can finalize the package by tomorrow. The ball is now in Slovakia’s court.”
Bratislava has been holding up approval of the sanctions due to its concerns over a separate EU proposal to phase out Russian gas imports by January 1, 2028. While sources told Reuters that most parts of the sanctions package had been agreed, one member state reportedly raised last-minute objections to a proposed reduction in the price cap on Russian oil exports.
The new sanctions package targets key sectors of the Russian economy, including energy, banking, and the military-industrial complex. It includes a proposed ban on financial transactions linked to the Nord Stream gas pipelines and on banks suspected of helping Russia circumvent existing sanctions.
A central feature of the package is a floating price cap on Russian crude oil — set at 15% below the average global price over the previous three months — in an effort to squeeze Moscow’s energy revenues without triggering global supply shocks.
The European Commission introduced the 18th sanctions round last month, intensifying pressure on Russia over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. But the proposal now hinges on internal EU negotiations, with Slovakia’s opposition spotlighting the political challenges of maintaining unity on long-term energy policy.
