Slovakia to stop blocking new EU sanctions on Russia

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday that his country will end its blockade of a new EU sanctions package against Russia. 

Slovakia had been holding up the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia over concerns regarding a separate EU plan to stop gas imports from Russia beginning in 2028.

Any new sanctions package requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states.

"At this point, it would be counterproductive to continue blocking the 18th sanctions package tomorrow," Fico said in a video posted on Facebook. He said Slovakia received guarantees from the EU pertaining to gas prices and supply. 

Fico said "further dialogue is needed" to ensure Slovakia's energy security. 

EU ambassadors are expected to meet on Friday to finally greenlight the package. Previous attempts to pass the new sanctions failed during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels earlier this week. 

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