Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that Slovakia will veto the European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia unless the European Commission provides acceptable solutions for Slovakia’s energy needs. The proposed sanctions include a full ban on imports of Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel, which are critical to Slovakia’s energy infrastructure.

Fico emphasized that Slovakia cannot support sanctions that jeopardize its national interests, particularly in energy security. He stated, “We cannot insist on adopting sanctions at any cost. There may come a moment when we will say we do not agree because we believe they are ineffective to the current efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.”

The Slovak parliament has also passed a resolution urging the government to reject further sanctions that could harm the country’s economy. While the resolution is not legally binding, it reflects growing domestic opposition to EU sanctions.

This development marks a significant shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy, as it has previously supported EU sanctions against Russia. The current stance aligns Slovakia more closely with Hungary, which has also opposed EU sanctions targeting Russian energy sectors.