Slovakia

The EU has not yet agreed on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, which the European Commission proposed on June 10. Slovakia is blocking it due to unresolved issues of gas supplies after 2027.

40 years after the establishment of the Schengen area, internal border controls are being tightened, limiting freedoms. Poland has introduced controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania, and other EU countries are also strengthening checks.

Greece's main archaeological site, the Acropolis, was partially closed on Tuesday due to a four-day severe heatwave. Temperatures in Athens will reach 38 degrees Celsius, and in other regions up to 42 degrees.

A 19-year-old Lviv resident was detained in Zakarpattia for the thirteenth time attempting to illegally cross the border. He was trying to get to Hungary, seeking better living conditions.

Night bad weather in Hungary and Slovakia led to delays of a number of Ukrzaliznytsia trains that were waiting for the transfer of Ukrainian passengers. Ukrzaliznytsia waited for passengers in Chop, but serious delays occurred, in particular, the Vienna – Kyiv train is delayed by more than 8 hours.

Great Britain has imposed sanctions on two Russians and one legal entity for the development of chemical weapons. Among them are the deputy commander of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological protection troops and an institute that supplies grenades with chemical substances.

As of the morning of July 8, Ukrzaliznytsia updated the list of trains delayed due to bad weather, including train No. 749/750 Vienna-Kyiv, which will be delayed by eight hours. Stormy weather conditions in Zakarpattia, Slovakia, and Hungary caused changes in passenger train schedules.

According to Barrot, the European Union is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, which will be the toughest in the last three years. The restrictions will be aimed at the financial and energy resources of the Kremlin, and may also affect foreign companies that help circumvent previous sanctions.

Stormy weather conditions in Zakarpattia, Slovakia, and Hungary are causing changes in passenger train schedules. Flights from Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava are delayed, and the contact network near Barkasovo and Skole has also been damaged.

Slovakia has blocked the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia for the second time, demanding guarantees from the European Commission regarding the RePowerEU initiative. This initiative envisages abandoning Russian gas by 2028, which, according to Slovakia, will have negative economic consequences.

In the first quarter of 2025, housing prices in the European Union increased by 5. 7%, and rental prices by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Since 2010, housing prices in the EU have risen by 57.9%, and rental prices by 27.8%.

The European Union may soon adopt the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Slovakia has received guarantees from the European Commission regarding a gradual phase-out of Russian energy carriers by 2027, which removes obstacles to the approval of new restrictions.

The European Commission and Ukraine have reached a principal agreement on the revision of the free trade area, which will facilitate Ukraine's integration into the EU single market. The modernized agreement includes a level playing field, safeguard clauses, and increased trade flows, taking into account the sensitivity of agricultural sectors.

The European Union has officially agreed to extend sectoral sanctions against Russia. This decision underlines continued pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

Romania has extended the mandatory licensing requirement for Ukrainian products until December 31, 2025. This measure, introduced to protect local farmers, covers the entire agri-food supply chain.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reacted to the statement by his Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanar, who called on the West to "forgive everything that has happened" to settle the war. Sybiha stressed that a sense of impunity is the root cause of Russia's crimes, and a criminal will not stop if they are forgiven instead of punished.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár stated that resolving the military conflict in Ukraine requires establishing communication with Russia and forgiveness from Western countries. He stressed the need for a diplomatic solution and adherence to international law.

US President Donald Trump will support new sanctions against Russia, which provide for tariffs for countries that buy goods from the Russian Federation. Senator Lindsey Graham discussed this issue with Trump, noting that everything is going well for the bill to be signed.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced his refusal to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that Zelenskyy hates him. Fico believes that Ukraine's EU membership is beneficial for Slovakia.

The introduction of the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia is delayed due to disagreements among allies. Hungary and Slovakia are blocking the restrictions, demanding guarantees of gas supplies, while the US is not rushing to lower the price cap on Russian oil.

A border guard disappeared in Zakarpattia, searches are ongoing. The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) refuted information that the reason for the military's disappearance was a planned deployment to the combat zone, emphasizing that this issue was not considered. Information about a possible illegal border crossing was passed to Slovak colleagues.

Ukrainian swimmers Oleksandr Zheltyakov and Volodymyr Lisovets won silver medals at the U23 European Championship in Šamorín, Slovakia. This is only the second time such a championship has been held.

The approval of the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia is delayed until next week. Slovakia continues to block it, seeking to reject the ban on Russian gas.

The European Commission confirmed its readiness to transfer 2 million artillery shells to Ukraine by 2025 and to provide the remaining 11 billion euros of G7 loans. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also emphasized the continuation of financial, military, and political support for Ukraine.

The European Council on June 26 approved the extension of sanctions against Russia despite threats from Hungary and Slovakia. Negotiations are currently underway on the 18th package of sanctions, which includes restrictions on pipelines and imports of Russian fuel.

European Union leaders have not reached an agreement on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Slovakia opposed it, which led to the postponement of discussions.

The Minister for European Affairs of Poland, Adam Szłapka, assessed the progress at the EU summit regarding the sanctions package against Russia and defense funding. Slovakia and Hungary oppose new sanctions, while Sweden hopes for agreements.

Slovakia will not support the new EU sanctions package against Russia due to unresolved gas supply issues after 2027. Prime Minister Robert Fico demands a postponement of the vote, which could lead to a deficit and losses of up to 20 billion euros.

The European Union summit starts today in Brussels, where key topics include the war in Ukraine, strengthening defense capabilities, and competitiveness. EU leaders will discuss further support for Ukraine, its path to EU membership, pressure on Russia, and efforts to achieve peace.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that there is no place for Ukraine in NATO, and Zelenskyy's presence only at an informal dinner in The Hague marks "the end of an era. " Orbán believes that Ukraine's entry into any integration community does not correspond to Hungary's national interests.