Blanar: Slovakia Ready to Support 18th Sanctions Package But Asks for Guarantees

Brussels, 23 June (TASR) - The eighteenth sanctions package against Russia won't have a negative impact on the Slovak economy in its current form; negotiations on the package are still ongoing and Slovakia is ready to support it, but it's asking for guarantees on the announced EU plan to disconnect from gas, oil and nuclear fuel supplies from Russia, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday. "We've said unequivocally that this [support for the package] is a technical aspect that we link with the political one," said Blanar, referring to the European Commission's plan to gradually stop importing energy resources from Russia to Europe by 2027. According to the minister, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) will link the 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions with the European Commission's proposal at this week's European Council meeting and will ask for guarantees and support in eliminating the negative consequences of the disconnection from Russian resources. This plan will seriously affect the economy and the price of final products, stressed Blanar. Slovakia's request to link these topics has been accepted by the remaining EU member states essentially without reservations, he noted. Fico previously informed that Slovakia won't support the upcoming sanctions package against Russia if it doesn't receive a proposal from the European Commission for a realistic solution to the crisis situation Slovakia will find itself in after a complete halt of gas, oil and nuclear fuel supplies from Russia. He also requested, through the Slovak ambassador to the EU, that the vote on sanctions be postponed until the matter is resolved. am