Slovakia will stop blocking the approval of the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia on Friday, Prime Minister Robert Fico said.

Slovakia will lift its blockade of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia as early as tomorrow, July 18. However, immediately after that, the "second phase of the fight with the European Commission over Russian gas" will begin,

Slovakia will stop blocking the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced. The decision follows efforts to secure safeguards from potential damages due to the European Commission’s plan to end Russian gas imports by 2028.