EU ambassadors have delayed a decision on extending individual sanctions against more than 3,000 Russian individuals and companies, leaving less than two weeks before the current restrictions are due to expire.
Citing EU sources in Brussels, the European Pravda reported Wednesday, Sept. 2, that the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (Coreper) failed to reach an agreement and postponed further discussion until Sept. 9. The proposed sanctions package was discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Ireland.
The restrictive measures target those accused of undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity and are set to expire on Sept. 15.
Slovakia’s position
According to European Pravda’s sources, Slovakia was not ready to support an extension of the individual sanctions for one year. The proposal was initially made by Ireland, which currently holds the EU Council presidency.
Instead, Bratislava supported the traditional six-month renewal period and proposed removing several unidentified Russian individuals and entities from the sanctions list.
The EU has repeatedly faced disputes over sanctions renewals, which require unanimous support from member states.
According to European Pravda, Hungary, under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, regularly used the six-month review process to seek concessions, while Slovakia has delayed or blocked several EU decisions in the past.
Wider sanctions plans
The delay comes as the EU prepares a broader expansion of its sanctions regime against Russia.
Politico, citing three European diplomats on Aug. 30, reported that the proposed package could add about 1,600 individuals and entities to EU restrictive lists.
The working list currently includes roughly 800 individuals and 800 legal entities. The sources indicated that the overall goal is a significant expansion of existing restrictive measures, with adoption targeted for mid-October.
The EU has already extended its economic sanctions against Russia until July 31, 2027, European Pravda reported, adding that the EU leaders agreed in June to apply a one-year extension rather than the previous six-month cycle, reducing opportunities for individual member states to hold up the renewal process.
Frozen assets push
EU diplomats are also expected to revisit the dispute over using frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine.
Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain have pressed the European Commission to revive proposals involving approximately €200 billion ($232 billion) in immobilized Russian assets, held mainly at the Brussels-based depository Euroclear.
The original proposal for a €210 billion ($243 billion) “reparations loan” collapsed at a European summit last December, following Belgian leader Bart De Wever’s decision to block the measure, citing the risk of Russian legal retribution.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has since indicated that Brussels could show greater flexibility if legal liabilities are shared among all EU member states.
The diplomatic push comes as Ukraine faces severe financial strain ahead of winter.
President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that his administration is facing a €23.1 billion ($26.7 billion) defense funding gap that must be addressed to sustain operations, as funds originally allocated for the second half of the year were spent early to accelerate military procurement and long-range strike campaigns.