Overview

• EU states agreed to prolong existing sanctions on Russia for six months with unanimous support.
• The EU’s 18th sanctions package, which would blacklist 70 ‘ghost’ tankers and additional Russian banks, is on hold after Slovakia’s veto over gas supply guarantees.
• Since February 2022, the bloc has adopted 17 sanctions packages aimed at cutting off revenue streams for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• Negotiators from the EU and US are racing to finalise a two-page trade framework before a July 9 deadline, with President Trump threatening to raise EU import tariffs to 50%.
• Member states are split on the trade deal approach, as Germany presses for a fast, simplified agreement while France demands tougher terms.