EU Extends Russia Sanctions for Six More Months

The European Union extended its sanctions regime against individuals and entities supporting Russia's war in Ukraine for another six months on Saturday, prolonging measures until September 15 despite last-minute opposition from Hungary and Slovakia. The decision, approved by the EU Council representing all 27 member states, targets approximately 2,600 people and entities with travel restrictions, asset freezes, and prohibitions on providing funds or economic resources.

The renewal came after intense negotiations, including three meetings in the EU Council last week, where Slovakia initially threatened to allow the entire blacklist to expire on Sunday unless it secured the removal of two Russian oligarchs, Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov. EU diplomats said Slovakia's EU ambassador, Juraj Nociar, pushed for lifting visa bans and asset freezes on the pair until late Saturday afternoon. Hungary offered verbal support and sought to delist those two along with five others, but ultimately did not join the veto and withdrew its demands as discussions progressed.

Slovakia relented without concessions, leaving diplomats puzzled. "One of the strangest U-turns I've seen. No idea," one...