Adoption of EU's 21st Russia sanctions package postponed for a week, sources say

The next attempt to approve the EU's new package of sanctions against Russia is scheduled for 22 July at a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (Coreper).

Source: a European Pravda correspondent in Brussels, citing EU diplomats familiar with the planning

Details: The EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia will be put forward for approval at the last meeting of EU ambassadors before the summer recess, on 22 July.

"The next Coreper meeting, the last one before the summer break, will take place on 22 July. Everyone hopes the 21st Russia sanctions package can be approved that day," one diplomat said.

European Pravda sources said that both Greece and Austria continue to object to some of the points proposed in the sanctions package.

Greece is demanding an extension of permission to re-export Russian liquefied gas to third countries, while Austria wants a Russian investment company removed from the EU sanctions list to enable frozen funds to be released and compensation paid to Austria's Raiffeisen.

One European Pravda source said Austria has already been given a compromise proposal to resolve the issue, which is now being examined in Vienna.

Meanwhile, Greece is continuing to insist on its demand.

European Pravda sources predicted that a compromise proposal for Greece would be prepared within the week for which the Council of the EU and the European Commission have effectively received a timeout.

Background:

• It was reported earlier that on 15 July, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (Coreper) failed to make a decision on adopting the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package and decided to freeze the price cap on Russian oil until 23 July while discussions continue.
• It was reported earlier that the EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia had to be approved by 15 July because of a deadline for reviewing the price cap on Russian oil.
• Austria is demanding that sanctions restrictions be lifted and the assets of Russian investment company Rasperia, linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, be unfrozen. The issue was last raised publicly in October 2025 during discussions on the EU's 19th Russia sanctions package.
• Bulgaria earlier threatened to block the 21st package, demanding that Patriarch Kirill be removed from the sanctions lists, and Italy later joined it. However, those objections have now been withdrawn, as Kirill has been removed from the lists.

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