EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas does not expect the 20th package of sanctions against Russia to be approved at today’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. She said this ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“We will discuss Ukraine. Tomorrow marks four years since the start of this terrible war. So, of course, there will be a discussion of the 20th package of sanctions, but, as you all know, I think there will be no progress on this issue today, although we will certainly make an effort in this direction,” she said.
On Sunday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that his country would block a decision on the 20th package of sanctions. According to him, this is Hungary’s response to the suspension of oil supplies via Ukraine. In addition to blocking the sanctions package, he also promised to prevent the provision of European funding to Kyiv and halted diesel fuel supplies. Oil has not been delivered to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline since damage to pipeline infrastructure on Ukrainian territory as a result of a Russian attack. However, Orban is blaming the Ukrainian side for the suspension of supplies.
Kallas also said that her proposals on a negotiating position toward Russia would be discussed today.
“It is quite obvious that so far pressure has been exerted on Ukraine in the context of peace negotiations, but it is also clear that pressure must be exerted on the Russian side as well, because it is the aggressor in this war, and if we want these wars to stop, if we do not want this to go further, we also need concessions from Russia,” she said.
Another item on the Ukrainian agenda of the meeting will be a 90 billion euro loan.
