EU ambassadors will examine a new Russia sanctions proposal Thursday after Greece vetoed previous measures over its fuel shipping industry. Ireland's proposal aims to break the deadlock, with talks focusing on implementation timelines and exemptions to drain Moscow's war chest.
EU ambassadors in Brussels failed to reach an agreement on the 21st package of anti-Russian sanctions, which included softer restrictions on Russian LNG transportation to third countries and excluded a proposed ban on Russian fish.
EU ambassadors are making a new push to finalize the 21st Russia sanctions package, facing resistance from member states like Greece, Austria, Bulgaria, France, and Italy over energy, banking, and visa interests, despite Hungary's shift in stance.
EU ambassadors approved a compromise on air passenger rights reform on Friday, aiming to balance airline and passenger interests. The reform preserves current compensation levels and delay thresholds, while introducing clearer instructions for submitting claims.
EU ambassadors agree to eliminate EU duties on most US industrial goods under EU-US trade agreement
EU ambassadors are set to approve a €90 billion loan to Ukraine on Wednesday, conditional on Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary resuming. Hungary has blocked the loan since February over a dispute regarding the damaged pipeline, but Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has indicated he will drop his veto once flows are restored. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy committed to repairing the pipeline after opposition leader Péter Magyar defeated Orbán in Sunday's election. If approved, Ukraine could receive the funds in May.
EU ambassadors in Brussels aim to unlock 90 billion euros in budgetary and military financing for Ukraine for 2026-2027 on Wednesday. The issue will also be discussed at EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday. Hungary and Slovakia must lift their veto for funds to be approved, with Budapest linking the unlock to resumption of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline.
