Latest news with #NordStream
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions; ball now in Slovakia's court, says EU foreign chief
FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo The European Union did not approve the 18th Russia sanctions package on Tuesday, the 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. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks, and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. It also proposes a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Canada News.Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
EU neighbor urges Slovakia to lift Russia sanctions veto
Czech Prime Minister Fiala has urged Bratislava to stop blocking the proposed restrictions Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has urged Slovak leader Robert Fico to withdraw Bratislava's veto of the EU's 18th sanctions package, which targets Russia over its role in the Ukraine conflict. Slovakia blocked the measures for the second time on Friday. Slovakia opposes the sanctions due to concerns over the RePowerEU plan, an EU initiative aimed at phasing out Russian energy imports by 2027. The plan is being discussed alongside measures targeting Russia's energy and financial sectors. Bratislava says it could lead to supply shortages, rising prices, increased transit fees, and potential legal disputes with Russian energy giant Gazprom. In a post on X on Sunday, Fiala said he sent a letter to Fico urging Slovakia to reconsider its stance, citing the "exceptionally close relations" between the two countries. While Russian gas has not been subject to a direct EU ban, most member states have voluntarily cut imports. However, several landlocked countries - including Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic - still rely on limited volumes through exemptions. Last week, Fico described the RePowerEU plan as "ideological," and said Slovakia requires "clear guarantees, not political promises" to ensure energy security and affordability - conditions which he said are necessary for supporting the sanctions. The European Commission has proposed advancing the energy phase-out via trade legislation, allowing approval by qualified majority and potentially bypassing vetoes by member states such as Slovakia and Hungary. Budapest has also rejected the plan, with Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warning it would "destroy Hungary's energy security" and trigger price spikes. In June, Brussels proposed a new round of sanctions targeting Russian energy exports, infrastructure, and finance. The measures would reportedly include a lower price cap on Russian oil, a ban on the future use of the Nord Stream pipeline, restrictions on refined products from Russian crude, and sanctions on 77 vessels linked to Russia's alleged 'shadow fleet' used to evade oil restrictions. Moscow has denounced the sanctions as illegal and counterproductive, arguing that they have inflated EU energy prices and forced the bloc to depend on more expensive or rerouted imports, undermining economic competitiveness.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions, ball now in Slovakia's court, says EU foreign chief
FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union did not approve the 18th Russia sanctions package on Tuesday, the 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. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks, and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. It also proposes a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Alison Williams and Rod Nickel)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions, ball now in Slovakia's court, says EU foreign chief
FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo BRUSSELS - The European Union did not approve the 18th Russia sanctions package on Tuesday, the 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. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks, and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. It also proposes a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said. REUTERS
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Trump is 'disappointed but not done' with Putin
US President Donald Trump is "not done" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the BBC, hours after he said he was disappointed in Putin and threatened Moscow with sanctions. Trump told the BBC he thought a Ukraine deal was on the cards with Russia four different times. Asked then by the BBC was he done with Putin, Trump said: "I'm disappointed in him , but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him." Pressed on how Trump would get Putin to "stop the bloodshed", the US president said: "We're working it." "We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," Trump told the BBC in an interview published on Tuesday. Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, with a 50-day grace period, unless Russia agreed to a peace deal, a major policy shift brought on by frustration with Moscow's ongoing attacks on its neighbour. He told reporters on Monday that billions of dollars of US weapons, including the Patriot air defence missiles, would be sent to Ukraine via NATO and that NATO would pay for them. Zelenskiy held talks with Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday. Since returning to the White House promising a quick end to the war, Trump has sought rapprochement with Moscow, speaking several times with Putin. His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Kyiv's membership in NATO and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory. But Putin has yet to accept a proposal from Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Kyiv. Recent days have seen Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities. In the BBC interview, Trump expressed renewed support for the NATO alliance. "I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that (obsolete) Trump's comments come as EU countries near an agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia. "We hope to reach a political agreement on the 18th sanctions package. We are very, very close. I hope it comes today," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said before a meeting with foreign affairs ministers from the 27 EU countries in Brussels. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all the elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission in June proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention and a lower price cap on Russian oil. US President Donald Trump is "not done" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the BBC, hours after he said he was disappointed in Putin and threatened Moscow with sanctions. Trump told the BBC he thought a Ukraine deal was on the cards with Russia four different times. Asked then by the BBC was he done with Putin, Trump said: "I'm disappointed in him , but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him." Pressed on how Trump would get Putin to "stop the bloodshed", the US president said: "We're working it." "We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," Trump told the BBC in an interview published on Tuesday. Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, with a 50-day grace period, unless Russia agreed to a peace deal, a major policy shift brought on by frustration with Moscow's ongoing attacks on its neighbour. He told reporters on Monday that billions of dollars of US weapons, including the Patriot air defence missiles, would be sent to Ukraine via NATO and that NATO would pay for them. Zelenskiy held talks with Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday. Since returning to the White House promising a quick end to the war, Trump has sought rapprochement with Moscow, speaking several times with Putin. His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Kyiv's membership in NATO and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory. But Putin has yet to accept a proposal from Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Kyiv. Recent days have seen Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities. In the BBC interview, Trump expressed renewed support for the NATO alliance. "I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that (obsolete) Trump's comments come as EU countries near an agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia. "We hope to reach a political agreement on the 18th sanctions package. We are very, very close. I hope it comes today," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said before a meeting with foreign affairs ministers from the 27 EU countries in Brussels. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all the elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission in June proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention and a lower price cap on Russian oil. US President Donald Trump is "not done" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the BBC, hours after he said he was disappointed in Putin and threatened Moscow with sanctions. Trump told the BBC he thought a Ukraine deal was on the cards with Russia four different times. Asked then by the BBC was he done with Putin, Trump said: "I'm disappointed in him , but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him." Pressed on how Trump would get Putin to "stop the bloodshed", the US president said: "We're working it." "We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," Trump told the BBC in an interview published on Tuesday. Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, with a 50-day grace period, unless Russia agreed to a peace deal, a major policy shift brought on by frustration with Moscow's ongoing attacks on its neighbour. He told reporters on Monday that billions of dollars of US weapons, including the Patriot air defence missiles, would be sent to Ukraine via NATO and that NATO would pay for them. Zelenskiy held talks with Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday. Since returning to the White House promising a quick end to the war, Trump has sought rapprochement with Moscow, speaking several times with Putin. His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Kyiv's membership in NATO and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory. But Putin has yet to accept a proposal from Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Kyiv. Recent days have seen Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities. In the BBC interview, Trump expressed renewed support for the NATO alliance. "I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that (obsolete) Trump's comments come as EU countries near an agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia. "We hope to reach a political agreement on the 18th sanctions package. We are very, very close. I hope it comes today," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said before a meeting with foreign affairs ministers from the 27 EU countries in Brussels. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all the elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission in June proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention and a lower price cap on Russian oil. US President Donald Trump is "not done" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the BBC, hours after he said he was disappointed in Putin and threatened Moscow with sanctions. Trump told the BBC he thought a Ukraine deal was on the cards with Russia four different times. Asked then by the BBC was he done with Putin, Trump said: "I'm disappointed in him , but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him." Pressed on how Trump would get Putin to "stop the bloodshed", the US president said: "We're working it." "We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," Trump told the BBC in an interview published on Tuesday. Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, with a 50-day grace period, unless Russia agreed to a peace deal, a major policy shift brought on by frustration with Moscow's ongoing attacks on its neighbour. He told reporters on Monday that billions of dollars of US weapons, including the Patriot air defence missiles, would be sent to Ukraine via NATO and that NATO would pay for them. Zelenskiy held talks with Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday. Since returning to the White House promising a quick end to the war, Trump has sought rapprochement with Moscow, speaking several times with Putin. His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Kyiv's membership in NATO and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory. But Putin has yet to accept a proposal from Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Kyiv. Recent days have seen Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities. In the BBC interview, Trump expressed renewed support for the NATO alliance. "I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that (obsolete) Trump's comments come as EU countries near an agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia. "We hope to reach a political agreement on the 18th sanctions package. We are very, very close. I hope it comes today," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said before a meeting with foreign affairs ministers from the 27 EU countries in Brussels. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all the elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission in June proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention and a lower price cap on Russian oil.
