EU member states’ ambassadors at a meeting on 2 September failed to agree on extending individual sanctions against more than 3,000 Russians and Russian companies.
The current restrictions are due to expire on 15 September, European Pravda reports.
The EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) has postponed discussion of the issue until 9 September.
The main obstacle has been Slovakia’s position. Bratislava is refusing to extend the sanctions for a full year, as proposed by the Irish Presidency, and is insisting on the usual six-month term. In addition, Slovakia has proposed removing several names of Russians from the sanctions list, but their surnames have not yet been disclosed.
- Meanwhile, the European External Action Service has prepared new sanctions lists against a further 10 people and 17 organisations it considers involved in the illegal transfer, Russification, ideological indoctrination and militarised upbringing of Ukrainian children.