The European Union has approved a new round of sanctions against Russia, marking the 18th package of economic measures since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A major highlight of the package is a reduction in the price cap on Russian oil exports.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hailed the move as one of the strongest sanction packages so far, emphasizing that Europe remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine.
The deal had been delayed for weeks due to opposition from Slovakia. However, the country dropped its resistance after reaching an agreement with Brussels concerning future gas supplies.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that he secured EU guarantees on gas prices, prompting his government to back the sanctions. The EU is pushing to completely end Russian gas imports by 2027 as part of its broader energy independence strategy.
