Slovakia blocks one-year extension of EU anti-Russia sanctions

Slovakia has become the only European Union country to oppose extending the EU’s individual sanctions against Russia for 12 months.

This was reported by Politico.

According to the publication, EU ambassadors were unable to reach a consensus on the proposal. Bratislava rejected the plan for a one-year extension, diplomatic sources said.

The sanctions package, which has already been extended multiple times in six-month increments, is set to expire on September 15. The bloc had hoped to secure a longer extension to avoid repeated negotiations, but any amendments require the unanimous support of all 27 member states.

The six-month renewal cycle was introduced as a compromise intended to placate former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.