Hungary and Slovakia oppose EU sanctions against Moscow, as well as additional financial support for Kyiv. These two countries believe that Ukraine should repair the oil pipeline that transports Russian oil through Ukrainian territory to their countries.
At the end of last week, EU ambassadors still failed to reach an agreement on the new sanctions package. The proposal focuses on energy, financial services, and trade, with the goal of limiting Moscow's revenues from the export of oil and gas.
Shadow fleet
The proposed sanctions package includes more measures against Russian oil exports. This involves looking at stricter steps against the oil tankers that still transport Russian oil worldwide.
Promotion
Hungary threatens to block the adoption of the twentieth EU sanctions package. Slovakia has joined in this stance. Prime Minister Robert Fico threatens to stop electricity supply to Ukraine if Russian oil deliveries via Ukrainian territory to Slovakia are not resumed soon.
Loans
In addition to sanctions, a European loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine is also under pressure. Hungary has threatened to block that support as long as the dispute over the oil supply remains unresolved. Without consensus, the new sanctions package remains stalled in Brussels.
When the European Commission presented the twentieth sanctions package earlier this month, the plan was for these new economic punitive measures to be adopted before February 24. Tuesday marks four years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Approval from all member states is required for new sanctions.