EU plans to approve 18th package of Russia sanctions this week

ISTANBUL

The European Union this week will approve its latest package of sanctions on Russia, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.

"By the end of this week, we aim to approve the 18th package of sanctions on Russia," Kallas announced after a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

Kallas said a "tough new oil price cap" on Russian oil remains on the table.

"I'm also pleased to announce we discussed the military support to Ukraine, and I'm pleased to announce that 80% of the pledges needed for this 2 million round initiative have already been done for this year," she added.

Kallas also gave reassurances that work is still ongoing in order to get everybody on board hours after Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary and Slovakia do not support the 27-member bloc’s latest package of Russia sanctions.

“W/ Slovakia, we blocked the 18th sanctions package as Brussels is pushing the REPowerEU plan, which would ban member states from buying Russian gas & oil,” Szijjarto said on X. “This would undermine Hungary’s energy security & violate the Council decision granting us exemption from the Russian oil ban.”

Kallas also reaffirmed that they discussed the review of Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the Israel-EU Association Agreement.

"Our first goal is to change the situation on the ground (in the Gaza Strip) and help the humanitarian aid to get in and help the people. So today was the beginning of the debate and not the end," Kallas said.

She reiterated the bloc's "clear" priorities for a return to a "full" ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the release of hostages, underlining that the blockade on food and medicine does "not protect" Israel but causes "more suffering."

Kallas noted that they will contact Israel to present their finding of the review, stressing that it is not intended to "punish" Israel, which has been "breaching Article 2," but rather is aimed at "triggering concrete improvements" for the lives of Gazans.

"If the situation does not improve, and then we can discuss further measures and come back to this in July," she added.

She also addressed the raging conflict between Israel and Iran following US attacks on Iran, urging negotiations.

"The EU has always said that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security. But military actions are always fraught with risks and uncertainties. What matters now is minimizing the risk of further escalation. Today, ministers urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiation table, and prevent further escalations, extended war benefits no one," Kallas said.

She voiced further concern over the possible "spillover effect" of the conflict in the Middle East, the question of retaliation, and the possible closure of Strait of Hormuz.

Kallas also said that they discussed the "growing repression" in Georgia, including attacks on opposition leaders and media, reaffirming that they are "ready" to consider "further restrictive measures on those who are responsible."