EU Extends Russia Sanctions for Just One Week: What Happened?

The European Union has extended its sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine for just seven days, giving member states more time to reach an agreement on the further implementation of the restrictions.

The spokesman for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU announced this, Ukrinform reports.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU countries adopted the decision on September 14. The sanctions will be in effect until midnight on September 22.

According to the spokesman, the EU embassies need an additional week to consider proposals to extend the sanctions. After the consultations, the issue will be brought up again for consideration.

The Irish Presidency emphasized that sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities remain one tool for pressuring Moscow and its military capabilities.

Politico previously reported that an agreement to extend the sanctions failed because of Slovakia’s position. Bratislava demanded that individual Russian oligarchs, including Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, be removed from the list and threatened to block the entire package.

The current sanctions were due to expire on September 15. Without a new decision, personal restrictions on about 3,000 individuals and organizations could automatically expire.

EU countries now have another week to agree on a further extension of the sanctions.