Hungary, Slovakia want seven Russians removed from EU sanctions list

Jozwiak said the countries want the individual sanctions against the Russians extended for only another six months. The deadline to renew the sanctions is March 15.

The EU has offered a counterproposal: a 12-month extension in exchange for removing two people from the list whom officials consider “weak cases,” those whose inclusion might not be strong enough to survive court challenges, Jozwiak said.

Personal EU sanctions against Russian citizens were last renewed in September 2025. At that time, media reported that Hungary and Slovakia had sought to remove the names of six Russians, but those names remained on the list. Jozwiak said the names are the same this time around. Officials have not publicly identified them, but they are understood to be people who have supported or financed Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The European Council failed to approve the 20th package of sanctions against Russia by Feb. 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc is working with Hungary and Slovakia to resolve their objections.