Slovakia and Hungary block EU sanctions against Russia!

Slovakia and Hungary block EU sanctions against Russia!

The European Union is currently faced with a significant obstacle when adopting its 18th sanction package against Russia. The reason for this is the resistance of Slovakia and Hungary. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeatedly requested assurances regarding the gas supply of his country in order not to counter a possible change of Russian gas after 2027, which forces the EU to postpone the decision, such as OE24 reports .

At a recently held EU summit, Fico prevented the necessary political approval for the sanction package. A unanimous decision is required for the adoption, which means that Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who supports FICOS position, also plays an important role. The meeting of the 27 EU ambassadors for the formal adoption of the sanction package therefore had to be canceled, but a new decision will be sought for the coming week.

ficoS claims and EU reactions

EU diplomats emphasize that Fico and Orban have no content reservations against the sanction package, which, among other things, is directed against Russian energy income and the banks. FICO wants to guarantee guarantees to avoid possible economic disadvantages and even calls for payments for damages if Slovakia is sued by Russia. As is well known, Slovakia is one of the last EU countries that still directly draws Russian gas, which makes its situation particularly complicated, such as DW informed.

The EU Commission had already proposed new sanctions on June 10 that aimed at the Ukraine invasion of Russia. In this context, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained the importance of the sanction package to support both Ukraine and to convince the United States of new sanctions. The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj called for a clear signal of support from the EU at the summit, while the member states unanimously condemned the Russian bombing of civilians and civil infrastructure.

sanctions as a total strategy

The planned sanctions aim to weaken Russia militarily and technologically and reduce the income of the Kremlin. Among other things, they contain an import ban for Russian natural gas after 2027, although Slovakia would be severely affected because it is currently dependent on Russian gas. The EU also plans to increase the efforts to equip the Ukrainian military, in particular through the delivery of air defense and drone defense systems as well as large-caliber ammunition. In addition, the EU has extended the existing punitive measures against Russia by six months and adopted a new sanction package in terms of liquid gas (LNG), which, among other things, prohibits the import of LNG from Russia, as on Germany representation In summary, it can be said that the political situation around the EU's new sanction package is characterized by both economic and geopolitical considerations. The upcoming negotiations will be crucial to maintain the unit within the EU and to take a clear attitude against Russian aggression.