Slovakia will allow the European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, after blocking the EU's approval of the sanctions multiple times demanding guarantees against damages it fears from a separate EU plan to end all gas imports from Russia Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Thursday.
"At this point, it would be counterproductive to continue blocking the 18th sanctions package tomorrow," Fico said in a video message posted on Facebook.
The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, banks, and military industry.
The proposed package included a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said.
The new set of restrictions would also ban transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention.
Slovakia has vetoed the package several times to try to win concessions on the separate plan to phase out Russian oil and gas, which, unlike sanctions, does not need unanimous support from EU countries.
Bratislava continues to import Russian energy, including gas under a contract running until 2034, and often takes pro-Russian views on Ukraine.
Fico said on Tuesday that Slovakia had received guarantees from the Commission on assistance in case of potential gas shortages or jumps in prices and transit fees, and assistance in disputes over potential damage claims from Russian supplier Gazprom (GAZP.MM).
According to reports, the Commission sent a letter to Slovakia on Tuesday saying it would intervene in potential litigation, and it also clarified how an "emergency break" can be triggered if gas prices spike because of scarce supply during the Russian gas phase-out. The correspondence also said that Brussels will develop a solution that aims to reduce the costs of cross-border tariffs on gas and oil for Slovakia.
EU countries' ambassadors will meet on Friday morning to approve the new sanctions, according to EU diplomats speaking to Reuters.
As world leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, the organisation faces wars, displacement, climate pressures and deepening ge...
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes milita...
Nearly 130,000 people have been forced from their homes in Yemen in recent weeks as fighting intensifies along the country’s west coast, acco...
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday. A mother and her two 3-year-old children were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a private home, the emergency service said.
As world leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, the organisation faces wars, displacement, climate pressures and deepening geopolitical divisions.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is under preliminary investigation in France over a suspected conflict of interest linked to the 2024 sale of Ligue 1 broadcasting rights.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
A powerful typhoon was approaching Japan’s Pacific coast on Monday, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and a heightened risk of landslides across the Kanto region, including Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment