Bratislava: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced late Thursday that Slovakia is prepared to approve the European Union's 18th sanctions package against Moscow amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. This decision marks a significant shift, as the sanctions package had previously been vetoed six times.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the breakthrough came after the European Commission provided Slovakia with written assurances regarding the EU's strategy to phase out Russian gas. These assurances were crucial in securing Slovakia's backing for the sanctions package.
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Fico detailed the guarantees provided by the European Commission. They include assurances about the price of gas, potential shortages, transportation fees, and the possibility of triggering a crisis due to extremely high prices and gas shortages. These conditions could lead to the lifting of the ban on importing Russian gas in crisis situations.
Slovakia had been a significant opponent of the sanctions package, primarily due to concerns over the transition from Russian gas. The EU's inability to pass the package until now highlighted the importance of Slovakia's concerns and the need for reassurances to facilitate the transition.