In a bold and potentially disruptive move within the European Union, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has publicly declared that his country will not support the EU’s proposed 18th package of sanctions against Russia. The announcement, made via a Facebook post on June 10, has underscored widening divisions within the bloc over how to approach the ongoing Ukraine conflict and its fallout on European energy security.

The European Commission revealed its latest sanctions plan on June 10, aimed at tightening restrictions on Moscow’s economic and energy activities. The measures include lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel, a formal ban on the use of the damaged Nord Stream pipeline, limits on refined petroleum products derived from Russian crude, and the blacklisting of 77 vessels believed to be part of a Russian “shadow fleet” allegedly employed to evade existing sanctions.

The sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. Slovakia’s opposition-particularly from a sitting prime minister with parliamentary backing-puts the entire package in jeopardy.

“The Slovak Republic will not support the upcoming 18th sanctions package against the Russian Federation,” Fico stated unequivocally.

He added that the only scenario under which Bratislava might reconsider is if the European Commission provides a “real solution to the crisis” that Slovakia would face from losing access to Russian energy.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EU has steadily ratcheted up economic and political pressure on Russia through 17 rounds of sanctions. These have targeted everything from........

© Blitz