Foreign ministers fail to reach agreement on Russia sanctions

At a press conference, Kallas criticized Slovakia in particular for its blockade. In return for its agreement, the country is demanding the promise that it will be compensated if an EU Commission plan to stop imports of Russian gas leads to economic damage. This plan is not part of the sanctions package, but is so important to Slovakia that it is using the 18th sanctions package as a means of exerting pressure.

Kallas said that Slovakia's demands had been met by the European Commission. The Slovakian Prime Minister, however, described the commitments as insufficient.

According to diplomats, in addition to Slovakia, Malta also had reservations about measures aimed at reducing Russian income from the export of oil to third countries. The country fears unfairly large disadvantages for domestic shipping companies if the so-called oil price cap is lowered too much.

The EU's 18th package of punitive measures is intended to further reduce Russian income from the export of oil to third countries in particular and affect the Russian financial sector, among others. Sanctions are also intended to rule out the possible recommissioning of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipelines and the use of the Nord Stream 2 pipelines.

The pipelines run through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany and could enable Russia to make billions in profits if they were to be used. However, this would require them to be repaired. One of the two Nord Stream 2 pipes was destroyed in an attack in September 2022, as were the strings of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline already in use.