EU to approve 18th sanctions package against Russia on June 26 as U.S. pressures Orban

This was reported on Espreso TV by correspondent Tetyana Vysotska.

"Right now, the key question is what results will come from the European summit set for June 26–27. According to unofficial statements, sanctions against Russia are likely to be approved — specifically, the EU's 18th sanctions package. Today, there’s no 100% guarantee, but I’m ready to say the probability is around 98%. The 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia is expected to be adopted on Thursday, June 26," Vysotska said.

She also noted that EU leaders may take a political decision to extend the current sanctions against Russia, which are set to expire at the end of July 2025.

"A noteworthy point being discussed among European politicians — and it’s neither new nor secret — is that Viktor Orban may not be able to resist pressure not just from the EU, but also from the U.S. Despite frequent talks between Trump and Putin, the United States is informally urging the European Union to maintain pressure and continue sanctions against Russia. No matter how much the Kremlin tries to lie or spin narratives, these sanctions are indeed working and hitting the Russian economy hard.

There were concerns that Orban might try to block the extension of current sanctions, but there are now reports that during the European Council meeting on Thursday, June 26, EU leaders will reach a political agreement to extend the existing sanctions in July," she added.

• The UK has rolled out a fresh set of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.