The European Union has still not reached an agreement on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. As EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Tuesday, Slovakia's opposition remains an obstacle, even though the European Commission has assured the EU that it has met its demands regarding gas imports from Russia.

"I'm truly sorry that we couldn't reach an agreement today. We were very close, the Commission met Slovakia's demands. Now the ball is in its court. We have to bring this matter to a close," Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

What is the next package of sanctions against Russia about?

The 18th sanctions package is to cover companies linked to the Nord Stream pipeline, additional Russian banks, and additional ships from the so-called shadow fleet, as well as introduce a ban on the export of products critical to the development of the Russian arms industry. The package also includes a new price cap for Russian oil.

According to unofficial information, the document proposes to set a floating price limit for Russian oil at 15 percent below the average market price of the raw material in the previous three months.

Adopting the package requires unanimity among the EU27, which is still lacking. The package is being blocked by Slovakia, which – although it did not oppose the sanctions themselves – opposes the European Commission's plans to phase out Russian gas and is demanding concessions in this matter. At the end of June, during the EU summit in Brussels, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that he would wait until he received guarantees from the European Commission regarding gas supplies before agreeing to new sanctions against Russia.

The Czech Republic asks Slovakia to agree to sanctions against Russia

Last Saturday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala asked Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico not to block the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. In a letter published on Sunday, he recalled, among other things, shared history and"painful experiences" related to Russia's aggressive policies and occupation after 1968.

The head of the Czech government stated in the letter, among other things, that during the video conference with representatives of Western countries and the international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, which took place this week in Rome, it was clearly visible that by blocking the sanctions package, Slovakia is becoming increasingly isolated.

He asked Fico and his government to resolve the situation. He noted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement that an agreement on the latest package only needed Bratislava's consent. Bratislava fears that the European Commission's plans to gradually phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027 will mean a drastic increase in gas prices.