Slovakia Opposes EU’s Proposed 18th Sanctions Package Against Russia, Citing Energy Concerns

 Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Tuesday that Slovakia will not support the European Union’s proposed 18th package of sanctions against Russia, warning that the measures could trigger a severe energy crisis in his country.

In a statement posted to his official Facebook page, Fico expressed strong reservations about the sanctions proposal unveiled by the European Commission earlier the same day. The new package targets Russia’s energy exports, infrastructure, and financial institutions, and includes a range of measures aimed at tightening pressure on Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Key provisions of the sanctions include a proposed reduction of the price cap on Russian crude oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, a permanent ban on the use of the Nord Stream pipeline, new restrictions on refined products derived from Russian oil, and sanctions on 77 vessels allegedly involved in circumventing EU oil embargoes via what Brussels describes as a Russian “shadow fleet.”

The package requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states to be enacted.

“The Slovak Republic will not support the upcoming 18th sanctions package against the Russian Federation,” Fico stated, adding that Bratislava would be open to reconsideration if the EU offers a credible solution to mitigate the energy crisis that could arise from further restrictions on Russian supplies.

Although Slovakia has thus far complied with all EU sanctions imposed since the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine in 2022, Prime Minister Fico has remained a vocal critic of the measures since returning to office in 2023. He has repeatedly argued that the sanctions are ineffective in altering Russian behavior while inflicting disproportionate harm on EU economies, particularly those of smaller member states like Slovakia.

Last week, the Slovak parliament passed a binding resolution barring government representatives from supporting any future international sanctions against Russia, citing the detrimental impact on the country’s industry and population. While President Peter Pellegrini holds the authority to veto the resolution, current Slovak law obligates Prime Minister Fico to vote against the sanctions at the EU level.

Russia, for its part, has consistently rejected Western sanctions as both illegitimate and counterproductive. President Vladimir Putin has made the removal of sanctions a key condition for any potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a presidential envoy for investment affairs, criticized the EU's latest sanctions push, claiming it is politically driven and designed to prolong the conflict rather than resolve it.