On Friday 18 July, the European Affairs ministers adopted the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Initially, they were only due to give an update on the issue at their EU Council meeting. But after the Slovakian veto was lifted on the evening of Thursday 17 July by the Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, the Member States’ ambassadors met early in the morning of the 18th to give their agreement, so that the ministers could formally adopt the text a few minutes later.