Europe Divided: Six Nations Resist New Russia Sanctions

The European Union's efforts to tighten economic pressure on Russia are encountering internal divisions, with at least six member states requesting exemptions or eased terms on the proposed 21st sanctions package. This divergence highlights how national interests are clashing with the bloc's unified stance against Moscow.

The objecting countries, Greece, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Portugal, have raised concerns about various provisions. Their requests focus on areas such as Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, fish imports, visa requirements for former Russian military personnel, and the fate of assets linked to Raiffeisen Bank International. These nations are seeking to protect their domestic companies and industries from potential harm, according to a Financial Times report.

These disagreements have significantly hindered the approval process for the 21st package. A meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement, with further negotiations scheduled. The dispute centers on the proposed package, not on repealing existing sanctions, which were extended for another year in June 2027. The EU requires unanimous consent for sanctions decisions, meaning any single member state can block progress until a compromise is found.

The European Commission proposed the 21st package in early June 2026, targeting sectors like energy, banking, crypto assets, trade, drone production, oil traders, refineries, and networks accused of helping Russia evade sanctions. However, after 20 previous packages, the new measures increasingly overlap with European companies still maintaining trade ties with Russia, making consensus increasingly difficult to achieve.