VIENNA, July 18 (KUNA) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said late Thursday that his country is ready to approve the EU's 18th sanctions package against Moscow due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
The approval came after the draft of the European Union's (EU) 18th sanctions package was vetoed six times.
In a post on Facebook, Fico said the move came after the European Commission had given Slovakia written assurances concerning the EU's planned phase-out of Russian gas to gain the country's support.
"The confirmed guarantees concern the price of gas and its possible shortage, as well as transportation fees... the possibility of triggering a crisis situation with extremely high prices, and a shortage of gas, which would lead to crisis solutions up to the lifting of the ban on importing Russian gas," he said.
The EU has been unable to pass the sanctions package due to opposition from Slovakia due to concerns with the transition away from Russian gas. (end) amg.mt