Slovakia will stop blocking EU sanctions against Russia if supplies via Druzhba pipeline resume

Slovakia will be ready to lift its veto on the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia only once oil supply via the Druzhba pipeline resumes, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday.

He said, as quoted by the Guardian, he would wait “until the oil actually starts flowing.”

Fico added that he would no longer object to the EU’s 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine in light of resumed operation of the Druzhba pipeline.

“I assume this loan could be unblocked provided that all steps are taken to open the Druzhba pipeline,” he said.

Fico said he was concerned about the possibility of oil transit suspensions in the future. “I don’t know how the EU will act if the loan is unblocked and in a few days the flow of oil from the Druzhba pipeline stops again. What we will do then, I really don’t know, but we must prepared for such an alternative,” he said.

The European media said earlier that EU permanent representatives would discuss the loan for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions on Wednesday. Some said that key provisions might be crossed out from the package.