The European Union has formally adopted its 21st package of economic sanctions against Russia, ending weeks of protracted negotiations that had left the bloc’s unity in question.
The agreement, reached on Thursday, marks a significant diplomatic milestone after earlier failures by EU ambassadors to secure consensus on the draft measures.
The new sanctions package focuses on tightening restrictions on energy imports and closing trade loopholes that have allowed Moscow to circumvent previous penalties.
However, the final text reflects significant compromises, with several member states securing concessions to protect their individual economic interests.
This fragmentation underscores the growing difficulty of maintaining a unified front as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had previously confirmed that member states had not yet reached an agreement, highlighting the internal divisions that delayed the process.