EU sanctions on Russia's allies extended for six months

The European Union has extended sanctions against individuals and entities deemed to be supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine by six months. This followed negotiations that had reached an impasse because of a veto by Hungary and Slovakia.

The EU Council said that the restrictive measures targeting individuals responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine have been extended until September 15.

The 27 nation bloc lifted sanctions against two individuals and removed five deceased persons from the list. One of the two living individuals removed was Niels Troost, a Dutch national placed on the sanctions list for trading in Russian oil, according to a European diplomat.

Approximately 2,600 individuals and entities are subject to the measures, which include travel restrictions, asset freezes and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed individuals or entities. EU sanctions have been gradually expanded since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

According to EU diplomats, Hungary and Slovakia have sought to remove Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov from the sanctions list.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged the European Union on Monday to suspend sanctions against the Russian energy sector because of the sharp rise in prices caused by the war in Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia also disagreed with Ukraine over the issue of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.

(Reuters, luc)