EU hopes to adopt 18th Russia sanctions package despite Hungarian and Slovak objections

Previously, the adoption was stalled by Hungary and Slovakia. The concerns from Budapest and Bratislava will have to be addressed at the June 26–27 European Council meeting, according to EU diplomats.

“We are waiting for the outcome of Thursday’s summit, and I believe that the conversation after Thursday will be much easier,” Poland’s EU envoy, Ignacy Niemczycki, told the journalists.

“We remain optimistic.”

On June 24, Slovakia said it was prepared to support the package if it “does not have a negative impact on the country’s economy,” hinting it seeks assistance from Brussels to offset losses from cutting Russian energy supplies.

The European Commission introduced the 18th sanctions package on June 10. It targets Russia’s energy and banking sectors, calls for a ban on transactions related to the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, lowers the oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel, and further restricts exports of technology and dual-use goods.