A group of six European Union members — Italy, Germany, Greece, France, Austria, and Portugal — has opposed several measures in the 21st sanctions package against Russia proposed by Brussels, deepening divisions after Greece blocked adoption for a week over LNG concerns.
Greece is seeking a legal revision to allow Russian LNG transport to continue beyond 2027, while Portugal and Germany want the ban on Russian fish purchases lifted to protect domestic processing industries. France and Italy also favor easing restrictions on issuing EU visas to Russian soldiers who served during the war.
Austria continues to demand the unfreezing of approximately two billion euros in Russian assets to compensate Raiffeisen Bank, while Bulgaria objects to adding Russian Patriarch Kirill to the sanctions list. The European Commission, preparing an economic analysis to counter Greek arguments, faces resistance driven largely by specific national economic interests. EU purchases from Yamal LNG reached nearly six billion euros in the first half of 2026.