Slovakia May Block EU Sanctions Unless Allowed Russian Gas Deal Until 2034, Says PM Fico

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is demanding that the European Commission allow Slovakia to keep buying Russian gas until the Gazprom contract expires in 2034 — otherwise, he’s threatening to continue blocking the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia.

Fico made the statement on Facebook on July 15.

He said that he had shared the European Commission’s proposals on energy supply guarantees with “all relevant political parties” in Slovakia, and they called the proposals “insufficient.”

“The representative of the Slovak Republic was instructed today to request a postponement of the vote on the 18th sanctions package, given the position of Slovak political leaders,” Fico said.

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He added that “the best solution to this situation” would be for Slovakia to fulfill its contract with Russia’s Gazprom until it ends in 2034.

“At the moment, the European Commission is fundamentally rejecting this, as approving such a proposal would contradict the very essence of anti-Russian sanctions,” the Slovak prime minister concluded.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned comments by his Slovak counterpart, Juraj Blanár, who suggested that Western nations might have to forgive Russia’s actions in Ukraine to achieve a diplomatic resolution.

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