Slovak PM threatens to block EU's 20th Russia sanctions package amid Druzhba pipeline dispute
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has told the European Commission he will block the 20th sanctions package against Russia unless the EU puts pressure on Ukraine to resume the transit of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline.
Source: Fico in a video address, as reported by European Pravda, citing Slovak private news channel ta3
Details: In Fico's video, the European Commission and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy come in for harsh criticism over the situation surrounding the Druzhba pipeline, which the Slovak prime minister describes as a "deliberate violation" of Bratislava's interests.
Fico accused the European Commission of "double standards", arguing that it places Ukraine's interests above those of EU member states.
He claimed that Slovakia has received a "threatening letter" from Brussels over its measures to protect the domestic fuel market while Ukraine receives "letters full of love and understanding".
In this context, Fico has threatened to block the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and to reconsider his position on Ukraine's EU accession.
Quote: "The European Commission has done nothing to make the Ukrainian president do anything…
If the European Commission intends to continue behaving in this manner and placing Ukraine's interests above Slovakia's, it can forget about support for the 20th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation or us being willing to facilitate Ukraine's swift accession to the EU."
Background:
- Fico had indicated earlier that in the future he might join Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in blocking the EU's €90 billion loan for Ukraine, which, like the 20th Russia sanctions package, is being held up by Hungary.
- On 23 February, Fico said he had ordered the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine because supplies of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline had not resumed.
- In March, Slovakia's police launched an investigation against Fico, who has been accused of treason by the opposition for halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
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