Slovakia maintains veto on new package of EU sanctions against Russia

The bilateral talks between Brussels and Bratislava have so far failed to produce the breakthrough needed to lift Robert Fico's veto.
Slovakia confirmed on Wednesday that it would for the time being maintain its veto on the new package of sanctions that the European Union intends to impose on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The veto was reaffirmed during a meeting of ambassadors in Brussels, where the sanctions were put on the table for approval and once again blocked, diplomatic sources told Euronews.

The package, which is ready to go after weeks of negotiations, targets Russia's financial and energy sectors, including the Nord Stream pipelines. A move to lower the price cap on Russian crude oil is uncertain to succeed due to the White House's reluctance.

The diplomatic impasse came as Moscow launched a new record-breaking barrage of drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities, injecting a new sense of urgency among member states to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's high-intensity war machine.

Slovakia has no objection to the economic restrictions per se; its opposition relates to an entirely different matter: the proposed phase-out of all Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027.

The European Commission unveiled the roadmap in May and presented the draft legislation in June, based on gradual bans on short-term and long-term gas contracts.

As a landlocked country, Slovakia has vociferously protested the plan, warning it will raise prices for consumers, weaken competitiveness and endanger energy security.

Since the phase-out is subject to a qualified majority, Bratislava has resorted to sanctions, which require unanimity, to extract concessions from Brussels.

During an EU summit last month, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico posted a video message with demands for financial compensation, without naming a concrete number.

"This will harm us, unless an agreement is reached with the European Commission that would compensate us for all the damage this proposal might cause," Fico said.

The prime minister said his country risked facing a lawsuit from Gazprom, Russia's gas monopoly, worth between €16 and €20 billion due to the termination of its long-term contract, which runs until 2034. The Commission argues the gas bans will act as "force majeure" in court and shield governments and companies against damages.