Bratislava (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In order to support the European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, Slovakia wants to agree on guarantees against the effects of a scheduled suspension in Russian gas supplies by Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Saturday, Bloomberg reported.
Fico discussed the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday morning, the Slovakian premier told reporters in Bratislava, characterizing the talks as “extremely tough.”
Slovakia is at the heart of a crucial conversation happening in the European Union about the EU’s 18th package of sanctions against Russia. The situation is complicated because the EU is proposing to phase out all imports of Russian gas by 2028. Since Slovakia depends on Russian energy, they are worried about what this would do to the economy and society.
What role does unanimity play in EU sanctions?
In the European Union, the adoption of sanctions is a process that requires unanimous agreement among all member states. Right now, and in a clear demonstration of the influence that even one member state can have in the EU decision-making process regarding foreign policy, Slovakia has used its veto power and blocked the adoption of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, effectively pausing it.
Slovakia has stalled the adoption of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia. The representative leadership, under Prime Minister Robert Fico, insists that any support of new sanctions is contingent upon obtaining assurances that Slovakia will not be negatively impacted, such as significant disruptions in the Russian gas supply.
What guarantees does Fico demand from the EU?
Prime Minister Fico stated that Slovakia cannot accept what he calls “unnecessary ideological gestures” that harm the country’s interests. He stated that there has been a response by the European Commission exploring a solution, but he argued that Slovakia’s real concerns must be addressed before Slovakia will agree to anything.
How much Russian energy does Slovakia still import?
Slovakia remains heavily reliant on Russian natural gas, with nearly 100% of its gas supplies historically coming from Russia, making it one of the most dependent EU countries in this regard. In 2024, Slovakia imported Russian goods worth about $4.53 billion, with mineral fuels (including gas and oil) accounting for the vast majority—$4.34 billion—highlighting the scale of energy imports from Russia.
