Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a strong warning to the European Union, declaring that his government will block the bloc’s proposed 18th sanctions package against Russia unless its concerns over energy security are adequately addressed. The sanctions, which target Russia’s energy and financial sectors, are part of the EU’s broader RePowerEU initiative aimed at eliminating all Russian energy imports by 2028. But for Slovakia and Hungary, the cost of compliance may be too high.

Fico, speaking during a parliamentary committee meeting on June 26, made clear that Slovakia sees the new package as a direct threat to its energy stability and economic well-being. While the European Commission has framed the RePowerEU plan as a trade initiative-thereby requiring only a qualified majority vote-Fico argues that the energy restrictions are, in essence, part of the EU’s sanctions regime and should therefore require unanimous approval.

“As for tomorrow’s vote, Slovakia will not vote on the 18th sanctions package,” he stated. “We consider it to be one package that includes RePowerEU, and we believe that unless the fundamental issues are resolved, we cannot adopt any further sanctions.”

Fico went further, requesting a postponement of the vote and asserting that, if denied, Slovakia would use its veto power. This firm stance places Bratislava in direct opposition to the majority of EU member states, which have largely supported successive sanctions packages against Moscow since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

The heart of Slovakia’s opposition lies in its heavy reliance on Russian energy, especially natural gas. Although the country has made some moves toward diversifying its energy portfolio, the infrastructure and long-term contracts still tie Slovakia deeply to Russian........

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