OPPOSITION TO RUSSIAN SANCTIONS AND ECONOMIC COSTS

A number of EU member states and business sectors have shown a stronger preference than others to lift the sanctions. Russia has strong historical and cultural ties with the Balkans and continues to count on political support from Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus. Visegrad countries in Central Europe are more divided, particularly as their economic ties to Russia place pressure on them to adopt a more conciliatory approach. Poland tends to take a harder line, with Czech and Slovakia showing more mixed stances.