EU member states have approved a six-month extension of sanctions targeting people and entities accused of undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union, or COREPER.
Slovakia was represented by its permanent representative to the EU, Juraj Nociar. The Foreign Ministry said Slovakia supports consensus among all partners, while insisting that anyone placed on the sanctions list unjustly should be reviewed and removed if justified.
The sanctions, now extended until September 15, 2026, apply to about 2,600 individuals and entities.
The Ministry also rejected opposition claims that Slovakia blocked the sanctions list. “Slovak diplomats were prepared to consider such a step if EU member states failed to take into account our objections to the inclusion of our Slovak citizen Jozef Hambálek,” the ministry added. Ministry further noted that this step was not necessary, as member states acknowledged the arguments regarding the lack of grounds for his inclusion on the list, and he was removed in 2024.
Source: TASR
