Slovak PM warns he will block EU's 20th Russia sanctions package amid dispute over Druzhba pipeline
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has made critical remarks about the European Commission, threatening to block the 20th sanctions package against Russia if the EU does not pressure Ukraine to resume the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
Source: Fico in a video address, as reported by European Pravda, citing Slovak private news channel ta3
Details: In the video address, Fico harshly criticised the European Commission and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the situation surrounding the Druzhba pipeline, which the Slovak prime minister described as a "deliberate violation" of Bratislava's interests.
The prime minister attacked the European Commission over "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 measures to protect the domestic fuel market, adding that Ukraine receives "letters full of love and understanding".
In this context, Fico 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 should forget about support for the 20th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation or our willingness to facilitate Ukraine's swift accession to the EU."
Background:
- Fico previously indicated that in the future he may join Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in blocking the EU's €90 billion loan for Ukraine. Its adoption, like that of the 20th sanctions package against Russia, is being held up by Hungary's position.
- 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, whom the opposition accuses of treason over the cessation of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
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