Slovakia blocks EU plan to extend Russia sanctions for 12 months

The measures, which have been extended repeatedly in six-month increments, expire Sept. 15. The bloc had hoped to extend the sanctions for a longer period to avoid repeated negotiations, but any change requires the unanimous support of all 27 EU member countries.

The six-month renewal cycle was originally a compromise intended to appease former Hungarian PM Viktor Orban. Budapest used the regular deadlines to pressure other EU governments and seek concessions. The bloc’s ambassadors failed to reach an agreement on the proposal. Slovakia was the only country to block it.

“Obviously, they have some objections; I think we have heard them before,” one EU diplomat said.

A Slovak government spokesperson declined to comment. Instead, the spokesperson distributed a statement from the Foreign Ministry saying: “Discussions on the regular six-month review of the sanctions regime ... are continuing and are expected to be completed by Sept. 15, 2026.”