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Brussels Playbook Podcast

Sanctions, tensions — and a birthday at the FAC

Brussels Playbook Podcast

POLITICO

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.4202 Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 16 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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

Transcript

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0:00.0

Today's episode is presented by Amazon. Across Europe, businesses are growing with the

0:05.9

AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe's largest enterprises and government

0:11.8

agencies to the continent's fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping

0:17.7

businesses across Europe grow at aWS.

0:27.8

Good morning. It's Monday, February 23, and this is the Brussels Playbook podcast.

0:40.1

The vibe in Brussels today is uneasy. As foreign ministers gather, hoping to agree on the 20th sanctions package against Russia, which Hungary is threatening to block.

0:44.4

Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Kosta are heading to Ukraine to mark the anniversary

0:48.9

of the war.

0:51.0

Also on the podcast, Iceland is eyeing a fast-track EU comeback and there's tariff turmoil in the US.

0:58.4

I'm Zoya Shafdilovic, Politico's chief EU correspondent.

1:02.1

And with me here today is our chief foreign affairs correspondent Nick Vinico.

1:05.2

Hey, Nick.

1:06.0

Hey, Zoya.

1:06.9

What's your favorite fruit?

1:08.6

Apples.

1:09.4

That's also the only fruit.

1:12.4

I like a pompal moose.

1:14.4

A pompal moose.

1:15.2

Those are good.

1:16.0

I like the little bitter bite there.

1:17.4

Delicious.

1:18.9

All right, let's get to our first story today.

...

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