European leaders decided on Thursday 18 June to extend the European Union’s economic sanctions against Russia for 12 months, rather than six as had been the case until now. These sanctions, in force since 2024, had initially been due to run until 31 July 2026. The extension will still have to be the subject of a formal decision by the EU Council.
In their conclusions on Ukraine, which they adopted at twenty-seven for the first time since March 2025 (see EUROPE 13594/2), European leaders say that the Union remains “determined” to increase pressure on Russia, notably by further reducing Moscow’s energy revenues, limiting the operations of its ‘shadow fleet’ and further restricting its banking system. The European Council calls for the rapid adoption of the 21st package of sanctions (see EUROPE 13884/1).
The conclusions once again insist on “comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people”.
While they appear united on many aspects concerning Ukraine, the leaders are divided over the pace of opening accession negotiation chapters. After the opening on Monday 15 June of the first cluster of negotiation chapters after more than two years of Hungarian blockage (see EUROPE 13889/29), the European leaders state that they look “forward to the opening of the other clusters, in line with the merit-based approach”. But the phrase “as quickly as possible” mentioned in earlier draft conclusions, does not appear in the final version.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda had hoped for all the clusters to be opened as early as July. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said that what concerns his country “and we are not the only ones, is that now, after opening this first cluster, we are talking about the immediate opening of all the others”.
Renewed contact with Russia is also causing debate (see EUROPE 13876/14), after the office of President António Costa established diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin.
“The President asked his office to open a diplomatic channel with Russia. The aim was to be ready, when the time comes, to defend the EU’s interests. These are superficial contacts, with no substantive exchange or negotiation: diplomats doing diplomacy”, a European source clarified on Thursday 18 June. The source recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had argued for Europe to play a more active role in diplomatic efforts.
In the conclusions they adopted, the leaders stress that “the European Council supports diplomatic efforts to bring Russia’s war of aggression to an end and underlines the EU’s readiness to step up its engagement in that context”.
According to the European source, President António Costa highlighted the need for Europeans to be ready to assume their responsibility, “if and when the conditions are met for a dialogue with Russia, in order to contribute to a just and lasting peace, which also guarantees Europe’s interests”. For this source, “one thing is clear”, this is not the time to negotiate, given Vladimir Putin’s attitude.
The source warned that the most important thing was for Europeans to coordinate on the position the EU should adopt and the way to approach Russia.
But some countries, notably the Baltic states, remain reluctant to open diplomatic channels with Russia, considering that Moscow is not ready to negotiate peace with Ukraine.
For Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, “pressure must be maintained and Putin must not be allowed to choose who he talks to. Negotiations must take place on Ukrainian terms”.
Other European leaders would also have preferred to learn of Mr Costa’s initiative by some means other than through the media.
On their arrival, several leaders spoke in favour of resuming contacts with Russia.
“I was among the first, not to say the first, to defend the idea that it was necessary to open a channel of dialogue between the EU and Russia in order to involve the latter in a negotiation process with its direct adversary, Ukraine, with the participation, or even the mediation, of the Union”, explained Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, for whom this approach is “much more widely shared, indeed close to a consensus”.
“Every peace begins with dialogue. Opening channels of communication is positive, whatever the level”, added Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, while admitting that “nothing suggests that Russia, and President Vladimir Putin in particular, currently wants to sit down at the negotiating table”.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden said that “at some point, yes, we must sit down at the negotiating table”. “We must not wait for others to organise the negotiations and then ask to be invited to them. But before speaking, we must identify our positions precisely”, he explained.
To see the European Council conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/mfq (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)