Slovakia opposed the introduction of the 18th sanctions package from the European Union against the Russian Federation during a meeting of EU member state ambassadors on June 27. According to diplomats involved in the negotiations, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico did not agree to provide political consent for the new package of restrictions during the EU leaders’ summit. Following this, discussions continued at the ambassadorial level, but no compromise was reached.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Main Reasons for Blocking the Sanctions
Slovakia officially stated that it would not support new restrictions, and the dialogue on this issue would move to a higher political level. According to the Slovak representation in the EU, on June 26, the day of the summit, Robert Fico held a separate meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss this matter.
“In our view, this brought us closer to a satisfactory solution.”
It is worth noting that Bratislava has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the EU’s plans for a complete abandonment of Russian energy resources. Slovakia, which is largely dependent on energy imports from Russia, demands guarantees from Brussels to avoid an energy crisis in the country.
Next Steps and Slovakia’s Position
According to an official note from the mission to the EU, a senior official from the European Commission is scheduled to arrive in Bratislava on July 3 to continue negotiations on the prepared work plan. The Slovak delegation emphasized that until these consultations are completed, the country’s position on the 18th sanctions package will remain unchanged.
At the summit on June 26, EU leaders agreed to extend the existing sanctions against Russia. However, the consideration and adoption of new restrictions, particularly regarding the energy and banking sectors, were blocked specifically due to Slovakia’s position.