EU fails to adopt 20th Russia sanctions package by invasion anniversary
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (Photo: Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS)
The European Council was unable to approve the 20th
package of sanctions against Russia by the fourth anniversary of the
full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Feb. 23, citing EU
officials.
EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said she regretted the process stalled.
“I deeply regret that we did not reach an agreement today, given that tomorrow is the solemn anniversary of the start of this war,” Kallas said.
She said the EU needs to send strong signals to Kyiv that the bloc will continue to support Ukraine while increasing pressure on Moscow to end the war.
On Hungary’s blocking of the sanctions package, Kallas noted, “We have seen this scenario before,” and added that the EU has previously managed to reach collective decisions. She said the bloc is working at various levels with Hungary and Slovakia “to make progress on this package.”
“Of course, it is not easy, it never is, but work continues,” she added.
On Feb. 22, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Budapest would block the 20th package until Ukraine restores the transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungary cited the same issue when it blocked a EUR90 billion
($106 billion) EU loan for Ukraine on Feb. 20.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
