The European Union is facing a sharp decline in support for new economic sanctions against Russia, as member states refuse to back measures that could harm their major companies.
The Financial Times stated this in an article, citing diplomatic sources, Ukrinform reports.
It is noted that the waves of sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 were intended to cut off sources of financing for the war. At the same time, according to five EU diplomats involved in the negotiations, demands from individual capitals have caused concern amid signs that Europe is becoming increasingly unwilling to tolerate the side effects of sanctions on its own companies that still do business with Russia.
As noted, since sanctions in the EU are adopted only with the unanimous support of all member states, objections from individual countries forced EU ambassadors to spend four days negotiating in Brussels last week. However, no compromise was reached. This has heightened concerns about weakening internal EU unity, declining resolve to support Ukraine, and rising expectations of possible peace talks, which make politically sensitive decisions more difficult.
One diplomat said that at the negotiating table, the moral imperative was becoming less and less effective. The diplomat added that the capitals of all member states agreed to tough rhetoric and spoke of solidarity, but that it ultimately all dissolved.
