Germany optimistic about 18th sanctions package against Moscow
Photo: EU to approve sanctions against Moscow this week (Getty Images)
Germany expects that the European Union's plan for the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine will be adopted this week, Reuters reports.
"It will now be raised at the ambassadorial level and reconsidered after a visit by the Commission to Slovakia later this week," the German government spokesperson said.
Sanctions package
On June 10, the European Commission proposed introducing a new package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, striking at Moscow's energy revenues, banks, and military industry.
In particular, it is about a ban on operations with the Nord Stream pipelines and lowering the price cap on Russian oil to 45 dollars per barrel.
However, sanctions in the EU require the approval of all members, and the 18th package of sanctions was blocked by Slovakia. Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Slovakia would not support new restrictions.
Bratislava wants a decision from the European Commission that will make it possible to "avoid economic damage" in the event of the EU's gradual abandonment of Russian energy resources.
Slovakia has not blocked any of the previous sanctions packages.
According to RBC-Ukraine's sources in Brussels, the EU will likely manage to convince Fico to support the 18th package of sanctions during July.
