It seemed that Viktor Orbán's departure from the post of Prime Minister of Hungary should have been a decisive factor for a breakthrough in the European Union's sanctions policy. Kyiv hoped that without Budapest's "eternal veto," the process of coordinating new restrictions against Russia would move faster. However, reality turned out to be much more complex: instead of relief, numerous new obstacles arose, and now each member state has begun to openly defend its own economic interests.
July 22: A new attempt at a breakthrough
According to insider sources, EU ambassadors plan to try again on July 22 to coordinate the 21st package of sanctions against Russia — the first since the change of power in Hungary. But instead of unity, a split is observed: member states have already weakened or even removed a number of key restrictions to protect their national interests in energy, fish processing, banking, and shipping.
"Surprise and disappointment — that is how many member states are slowing down this process. It is extremely important to continue strengthening EU sanctions against Russia precisely now, when Russia is beginning to feel the pressure of the war both in its domestic economy and in public sentiment," stated Finnish Member of the European Parliament Ville Niinistö.
Greece against the LNG ban
One of the main sticking points was the proposed ban on European companies transporting Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to third countries. Greece, whose economy is closely linked to port logistics and energy flows, opposes this provision. Athens fears that such measures will hit its own revenues and disrupt contracts with partners.
Austria and Raiffeisen Bank
Another complex issue is Austria's position, which actively defends the interests of Raiffeisen Bank, the second largest in the country. The financial institution is demanding compensation for what it considers an illegal expropriation of its assets in Russia amounting to €2.44 billion. Vienna insists that any new sanctions should not worsen the situation of Austrian banks that have already suffered from the conflict.
Bulgaria and Patriarch Kirill
Bulgaria has also contributed to slowing down the process: Sofia does not support sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as against former Russian servicemen. Sofia's authorities argue this based on religious and cultural ties, as well as the lack of clear criteria for identifying persons subject to restrictive measures.
France and Italy: The mechanism is not ready
Paris and Rome also opposed restrictions on former Russian military personnel. Both countries pointed out that the mechanism for determining the persons to whom these measures will apply is not yet ready for practical application. As a result, the relevant provisions of the sanctions package were significantly softened to avoid legal conflicts and inefficiency.
Why did the EU hit a dead end?
Earlier, RBK-Ukraine reported that on July 15, ambassadors of the European Union countries once again failed to reach an agreement on the adoption of the 21st package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. This is not the first time Brussels has faced internal disagreements when trying to tighten pressure on Moscow. Now, even without Orbán, the EU's united front is under threat due to national interests.
Interestingly, Donald Trump, while out of power, also expressed a desire to change the project of so-called "hellish sanctions" against Russia. His position, although it does not directly influence current negotiations in the EU, reflects a broader trend: even among Western politicians, doubts are growing about the effectiveness of endless rounds of sanctions.
What's next?
Now the question is not so much whether the EU will be able to adopt the 21st package of sanctions, but how effective it will be. If each country continues to defend its own interests, the result may be merely symbolic — without real pressure on the Russian economy. And then Ukraine will be left alone with the consequences of the war, while Europe argues about who and how much should lose.
