Slovakia still blocking EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia
Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia (Getty Images)
Slovakia has not lifted its veto on the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia. It is unlikely to be approved this week, according to Radio Free Europe's Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak.
"The 18th sanctions package on Russia is not expected to be approved until next week at the earliest. Slovakia still vetoes," Jozwiak noted.
Why Slovakia is blocking the sanctions
On June 23, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that both Budapest and Bratislava had blocked the adoption of the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia.
He complained that the EU intends to ban member states from purchasing Russian oil and gas.
Meanwhile, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár assured that Slovakia would lift its veto once the EU provides guarantees to mitigate the impact of phasing out Russian energy sources.
Notably, on June 25, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised that new sanctions against Russia would be approved during the EU summit on June 26 — but that did not happen.
