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18-07-2025
BRUSSELS: The European Union failed for a second day to approve a new package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday as Slovakia continued to seek concessions over gas supplies, four EU diplomats told media.
Slovakia vetoed the approval of the sanctions during a meeting of EU countries’ ambassadors, the diplomats familiar with the talks said. Two of the diplomats said Malta had also raised an objection.
Slovakia’s government has said it will not approve the sanctions before the country receives more guarantees that it would not be harmed by a separate EU plan to phase out Russian gas by the end of 2027.
Those phase-out plans need to be approved in the EU by a reinforced majority of countries, meaning Slovakia alone cannot veto them. However, sanctions require unanimity.
“We consider this (Russian energy phase-out) proposal to be a sanction and therefore naturally link it to the proposal for the … package of sanctions,” Fico said, in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released by his office on Wednesday.
“We therefore expect that the vote on the 18th package can only take place after a substantial part of the risks… in the area of gas supplies from 2028 have been resolved.”
The sanctions would be the EU’s 18th package of such measures against Russia over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Commission, the EU’s executive arm, had sought to win Slovakia’s support on Tuesday in a letter saying it would work to address its concerns.
Fico, in his reply, said talks should continue in order to clarify commitments the Commission would undertake.
Slovakia continues to import Russian energy and often takes pro-Russian views on Ukraine.
It argues that quitting Russian gas could cause shortages, raise prices and transit fees, and lead to damage claims from Russian supplier Gazprom, opens new tab.
Fico said on Tuesday the best solution would be an exemption in the Russian energy phase-out for Slovakia to allow it to fulfill its contract running until 2034.
The European Union failed to approve a new package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, as Slovakia demanded more guarantees that it would not be harmed by a separate EU plan to phase out Russian gas.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, had said in a letter seen by media and later released by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s office that it would work to address Slovakia’s concerns, attempting to unlock a deal on the EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Slovakia’s representative at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday was tasked with requesting a delay to a planned vote on the sanctions, Fico said in a statement.
“The government coalition rejects the imbecile proposal of the European Commission to stop the flow of Russian gas from 2028,” Fico said.
“However, it is ready to negotiate guarantees that will provide Slovakia with a certain comfort in gas supplies after 2028.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking after the foreign ministers’ meeting, said she was “really sad” the sanctions did not get approved, adding that “the ball is in Slovakia’s court”. She added she was hopeful a deal on the sanctions could be reached on Wednesday. (Int’l News Desk)
