EU leaders agree to extend sanctions against Russia for longer period

EU leaders have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for 12 months for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war, rather than six as had previously been the case.

Source: European Pravda correspondent in Brussels

Details: The decision was taken following a meeting of the European Council, which began with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance and continued after his departure in a session of EU leaders.

The talks lasted around three and a half hours in total and ended shortly before midnight Kyiv time.

Maria Tomasik, a European Council spokesperson, told journalists in Brussels that discussions on Ukraine had concluded, that EU leaders had adopted the summit conclusions on Ukraine and that they had decided to extend sanctions against Russia for 12 months.

The move marks a precedent for the EU, as for the past decade, including throughout the full-scale war, sanctions had to be renewed every six months, giving individual capitals, including Budapest, room to negotiate. The change became possible after Viktor Orbán's defeat in the Hungarian elections.

Background:

• Ahead of the summit, sources said the EU might agree to extend sanctions against Russia for a full year, as veto obstacles had effectively been removed.
• During Viktor Orbán's premiership, Hungary regularly blocked EU sanctions and other decisions, demanding various concessions. Slovakia also occasionally joined in these blockades.
• Amid work on the EU's 21st Russia sanctions, opposition has come from Bulgaria over the inclusion of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on the list.

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