**Slovakia Relents on EU Sanctions Against Russia**
After weeks of hesitation, Slovakia has agreed to stop blocking the approval of new European Union sanctions against Russia. The move comes as Prime Minister Robert Fico acknowledged that his country had achieved all it could from negotiating with Brussels.
In a video message posted on Facebook, Fico said that further delays in approving the 18th package of EU sanctions would be “counterproductive.” This decision effectively paves the way for EU countries’ ambassadors to meet and approve the new sanctions on Friday morning.
The proposed sanctions package targets Russia’s energy revenue, banks, and military industry. Key measures include a floating price cap on Russian oil that is 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months. Additionally, the proposal would ban transactions with Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipelines and banks engaging in sanctions circumvention.
Slovakia had previously vetoed the package several times to push for concessions related to a separate EU plan aimed at phasing out Russian oil and gas. This plan does not require unanimous support from EU countries, unlike sanctions. Slovakia continues to import Russian energy, including gas under a contract running until 2034, and has often taken pro-Russian views on Ukraine.
However, following talks with the European Commission, Slovakia has secured guarantees for assistance in case of potential gas shortages or price spikes. The Commission has also committed to intervening in any potential litigation with Russian supplier Gazprom. Furthermore, Brussels will work towards reducing cross-border tariffs on gas and oil for Slovakia.
Slovakia’s decision to relent comes as Malta had previously expressed reservations about the proposed Russian oil price cap but announced its support for the new sanctions on Thursday evening. With this development, all EU countries are now expected to approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
As the global community continues to impose economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia’s decision to drop its opposition to the EU sanctions highlights a shift in the country’s stance towards closer alignment with Brussels.
