
newsFeb 23, 202615:43pending
Sanctions, tensions — and a birthday at the FAC
About this episode
EU foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels with one clear goal: to agree on a 20th sanctions package against Russia. But Hungary is threatening to block it — linking its support to a growing energy standoff with Ukraine over disrupted oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline.
Host Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by POLITICO’s chief foreign affairs correspondent Nick Vinocur to unpack what’s at stake at the Foreign Affairs Council.
Then we head north to Iceland, which could fast-track a referendum on restarting EU membership talks as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Greenland rhetoric and new U.S. tariffs reshape the political calculus in Reykjavík.
And finally, fresh transatlantic trade turbulence after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariff regime — only for the president to announce a new 15 percent rate. Brussels is demanding clarity before moving ahead with its side of the EU-U.S. deal.
Plus: a birthday nod at the FAC. You can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29.
**A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.**
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get every episode summarized
Each time Brussels Playbook Podcast publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Brussels Playbook Podcast

The EU’s Israel dilemma
Brussels Playbook Podcast
Sep 9, 202616:35failed

Kaja Kallas takes another hit
Brussels Playbook Podcast
Sep 8, 202616:17failed

Germany's far-right bombshell
Brussels Playbook Podcast
Sep 7, 202620:33completed

What do Spain's migrant crisis and Germany's knife-edge election mean for Europe...
Brussels Playbook Podcast
Sep 4, 202626:15failed