Slovakia will lift its blockade of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia as early as tomorrow, July 18. However, immediately after that, the "second phase of the fight with the European Commission over Russian gas" will begin,

EU ambassadors are expected to approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on Friday. Slovakia had been blocking the package over concerns regarding a separate EU proposal phasing out gas imports from Russia.

Slovakia will stop blocking the approval of the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia on Friday, Prime Minister Robert Fico said.