A French lawmaker from the far-right National Rally, Thierry Mariani, suggested that the EU may see the tenth package of sanctions against Russia as potentially the last one due to growing disagreements within member states. His remarks were reported by RIA Novosti.
According to Mariani, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aimed to mark a milestone with a sanctions anniversary, yet deep rifts in the European Union are becoming increasingly evident. He argued that the dispute over Russian gas supplies fuels these tensions across Europe. He singled out Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia as countries that have handled this issue differently from others.
Mariani also criticized Brussels for avoiding discussion on other key topics, such as civilian nuclear power. He noted that the EU imports nearly 20 percent of its uranium from Russia and that 19 reactors built with Russian technology supply energy to five European countries. He added that a sizable portion of nuclear fuel used in American power plants comes from Russia while a substantial share originates in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, countries geographically close to Russia, which he said confuses American policymakers.
The parliamentarian argued that the European Union has little room left to impose further sanctions and described the delayed public unveiling of the tenth package as a sign of exhaustion and political strain within Europe. Mariani is known for advocating closer ties with Moscow, supporting Crimea’s reunification with Russia, and repeatedly urging the EU to lift penalties on the Russian Federation. He has visited Crimea on several occasions and has urged Europe to acknowledge the outcomes of the 2014 referendum.
On February 25, the European Union announced new sanctions targeting Russia, expanding restrictions on exports and imports and imposing personal sanctions. The measures also restricted Russian media activities. A day earlier, Reuters reported that EU ambassadors had failed to reach a consensus on the tenth sanctions package for the third time. Sources indicated that Poland had blocked part of the plan, arguing that exemptions allowing rubber imports from Russia would undermine the new measures.
On February 20, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, acknowledged continued divisions within the EU over the tenth sanctions package. He stated that the package would be approved in writing by February 24 and that remaining obstacles would be overcome, a commitment reportedly shared by all ministers and broadly supported.
Bloomberg later reported on February 22 that the G7 nations were considering a new tool to coordinate the enforcement of anti-Russian sanctions. The proposed mechanism, referred to in reports as an implementation coordination tool, would enable countries to exchange information about any state or company suspected of helping Russia evade or undermine sanctions. A Bloomberg source noted that the United States shares concerns about compliance with measures already adopted against Russia, underscoring ongoing coordination among partners in the transatlantic alliance.