Reuters: EU ambassadors failed to reach an agreement on the 15th sanctions package against Russia.

The ambassadors of EU countries were unable to agree on the 15th sanctions package against Russia, which includes the extension of the right to import Russian petroleum products into the Czech Republic, reports Reuters citing diplomatic sources.

According to Reuters, the adoption of the package was blocked by two countries, although their identities remain undisclosed. The reason for this was disagreements regarding the extension of the period during which European companies are required to withdraw their investments from Russia.

Furthermore, as reported by Reuters, a discussion arose when the continuation of an exemption allowing the Czech Republic to keep importing diesel fuel and other products derived from Russian oil and produced at a Slovak refinery was under consideration.

Reuters states that the Czech Republic has expressed a desire not to extend the exemption permitting the import of Russian fuel, while Slovakia, on the other hand, wishes to maintain the agreement, which expired on December 5.

The 15th package also includes sanctions against tankers transporting Russian oil. EU members will return to the negotiations later, according to Reuters.

Following the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, most EU countries banned the import of oil from Russia.

However, exceptions were made for Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic due to a lack of alternatives.

At the same time, the Czech Republic plans to modernize the pipeline from Italy to Germany and completely abandon Russian crude oil by the second half of 2025.

Background. The 14th sanctions package against Russia was approved in June 2024. Among other measures, it imposed restrictions on the transit of Russian liquefied natural gas through European ports and obligated companies with subsidiaries in third countries to prevent the re-export of dual-use technologies to Russia.