Hungary is seeking changes to the European Union’s upcoming 20th sanctions package against Russia, potentially delaying its adoption, Politico reported on Tuesday, Feb. 17, citing multiple diplomats.
EU ambassadors are expected to hold at least two more meetings in the Coreper II format before a final deal is reached, according to the report. The package is being prepared ahead of Feb. 24 – the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
Race against the clock
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has been pushing to have the new sanctions ready by the anniversary date. Diplomats told Politico that ambassadors are likely to meet again on Wednesday and possibly Friday in an effort to finalize the measures in time.
The new package is expected to target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” – vessels used to circumvent Western oil sanctions – and include a ban on maritime services supporting ships that transport Russian oil and gas.
Kallas is also working to coordinate the measures with the United Kingdom to maximize their impact, according to the report.
Hungary raises objections
However, two diplomats told Politico that Hungary is pushing to delist senior Russian sports officials from the sanctions list. The move could complicate or delay the adoption of the entire package, as EU sanctions require unanimous approval by all 27 member states.
Sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan briefed ambassadors on Monday about efforts to close loopholes that allow Russia to continue exporting oil despite existing restrictions. He is expected to travel to Kyrgyzstan soon as part of those efforts, the report said.
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While EU officials remain optimistic that the package will ultimately pass, Hungary’s objections risk slowing down the process at a politically symbolic moment for the bloc.
What the 20th package includes
Earlier this month, the European Commission unveiled details of the 20th sanctions package, describing it as one of the bloc’s broadest efforts yet to curb Russia’s ability to finance its war.
The measures target Russia’s energy exports, financial sector and sanctions evasion networks. They include a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil, coordinated with the G7, and the addition of 43 vessels to the shadow fleet list, bringing the total number of sanctioned ships to 640.
The package also introduces restrictions on the acquisition of oil tankers and bans services for LNG tankers and icebreakers. Export bans will cover a wide range of goods, including rubber products, tractors and cybersecurity-related equipment, while new import restrictions will apply to metals, chemicals and critical minerals.
For the first time, the EU plans to activate its anti-circumvention tool, banning exports of CNC machine tools and radio equipment to countries considered at high risk of re-exporting them to Russia. The package also targets 20 Russian regional banks and expands measures against cryptocurrencies and third-country entities accused of helping Moscow evade sanctions.
According to Bloomberg, several EU capitals have already signaled opposition to replacing the price cap with a services ban, even though sanctions can only be adopted with the unanimous backing of all member states.
On Sept. 19, the European Commission unveiled its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting energy imports, banks, crypto platforms, military suppliers and battlefield technology exports.