Slovakia drops its blockade of additional sanctions on Russia

BRATISLAVA - Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday that his country will support the planned 19th EU sanctions package targeting Russia after getting wording it demanded into the draft final version of the declaration.

Fico, a left-wing nationalist who was seen as a stumbling block to getting the sanctions passed, told the Slovakian parliament that it was never his intention to block the sanctions on Russia.

The plan is due to be discussed during the EU summit on Thursday.

Instead his goal was for the European Union to take stronger action against soaring energy prices rather than focusing solely on military aid for Ukraine.

He said he would not accept "that the main topic at every EU summit is always Ukraine, Ukraine and Ukraine again," while the fundamental problems of the European economy and population are ignored.

The draft final declaration for the EU summit now states: "In light of the negative impact of high energy prices on the global competitiveness of European industries, on the Union's strategic autonomy and on European households, the European Council calls on the Commission to accelerate work aimed at lowering energy prices and supporting sustainable energy production in the Union."

The European Commission has assured that concrete proposals will be presented soon, Fico told the EU committee of the Slovakian parliament.

Slovakia's economy is dominated by energy-intensive industries, particularly the automotive and heavy industries.

At the same time, the country, which is also a NATO member, is heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil imports.

The government in Bratislava resists cutting ties with Russian energy imports, arguing that doing so would further increase already high energy prices.