SUMMARY - Saturday, 12 July 2025 - 9 p.m.

Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is facing mounting criticism from European partners for refusing to support the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, and on Saturday, he and other ministers from his party attempted to justify the stance by citing concerns over Russian gas supplies and claiming the move will help secure lower gas prices for consumers - but those claims are false, opposition MP Julius Jakab ('Slovakia' party) said on the same day. https://etasr.sk/article/22262720 Bratislava, July 12 (TASR) – Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) responded aggressively on Saturday to growing calls from Slovakia’s European partners for energy independence from Russia, and in response, Ivan Stefunko, vice-chair of the opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS), emphasized that a sovereign country does not negotiate in isolation and aggression but with prudence, dignity, and respect for its partners. https://etasr.sk/article/22262709 Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) – The Slovak government is not considering the resolution, proposed by opposition, that aims to bind the government to support anti-Russian sanctions, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated at a press conference on Saturday. https://etasr.sk/article/22262661 Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) – Slovakia will attempt in the next 48 hours to reach an agreement with European officials on guarantees that would address the harmful consequences of the planned halt of Russian gas supplies to the EU starting in January 2028, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) declared at a press conference on Saturday. https://etasr.sk/article/22262622 Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) - M.R. Stefanik Airport in Bratislava has processed more than 1 million passengers this year, and the airport welcomed its one millionth passenger on Thursday, TASR has learnt from M.R. Stefanik Airport director Dusan Novota. https://etasr.sk/article/22262502 Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) - On Friday, the Culture Ministry marked the 182nd anniversary of the historic meeting of Ludovit Stur [Slovak poet], Jozef Miloslav Hurban, and Michal Miloslav Hodza, where the decision to codify the Slovak literary language was made, describing it as significant cultural and political act that continues to influence Slovak life to this day. https://etasr.sk/article/22262267 NOTICE: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. mf