The European Union has decisively extended personal sanctions against key Russian figures for an additional six months, a move aimed at maintaining pressure amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Despite significant resistance from Hungary and Slovakia, members of the Eastern Bloc, the EU’s collective determination to uphold these restrictions prevailed in the council vote. The sanctions target individuals linked to Russia’s government, military aggression, and human rights violations, underscoring the Union’s commitment to its foreign policy objectives.

Sources indicate that Hungary and Slovakia’s opposition centered on concerns about the impact of prolonged sanctions on regional energy security and diplomatic diplomacy. However, the majority of member states argued the sanctions are necessary to uphold international law and deter further…