EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions, ball in Slovakia’s court, says EU foreign chief

Reuters. The European Union did not approve new Russia sanctions on Tuesday (July 15), EU’s foreign Chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

She said she was “really sad” the sanctions did not get approved, but hopeful a deal will be reached on Wednesday, adding that the ball is in Slovakia’s court. Slovakia has been blocking the EU’s latest sanctions package until its concerns are addressed over a separate EU proposal to phase out imports of Russian gas by January 1, 2028.

EU foreign ministers welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to send more weapons to Ukraine, “although we would like to see the U.S. share the burden,” Kallas said.

The EU foreign policy chief said that ministers will discuss Russian frozen assets during an informal meeting at the end of August, as member states have “very different views” on the issue.

Kallas also said that Israel needs to take more concrete steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and fully implement the agreement it made with the European Union last week.