EuroNews

Slovakia maintains veto on new package of EU sanctions against Russia

American Spectator

News digest: Fico says no to sanctions without gas guarantees

TASS

Russian gas agreement with EC to exclude adverse implications for Slovakia  PM

Slovakia again blocks EU sanctions against Russia  report

Spoy

Liz Truss

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Jake Sullivan

Dmitry Peskov

John Kirby

Daniel DePetris

Mykhailo Podolyak

Petro Poroshenko

Andrey Illarionov

Dmytro Kuleba

David Von Drehle

Oleksiy Reznikov

Sergei Shoigu

Dmitry Gorenburg

Ivan Losev

Aleksey Arestovich

Andrzej Duda

James Stavridis

Dmitry Medvedev

Jason Jay Smart

Beth Knobe

Dmitri Alperovitch

Richard Branson

Metaculus

When Will the Russia-Ukraine War End?

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Slovakia has maintained its veto on the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, blocking approval during multiple meetings of EU ambassadors in Brussels as the country demands guarantees regarding the proposed phase-out of Russian fossil fuels by 2027-2028.

Slovakia has maintained its veto on the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, blocking approval during multiple meetings of EU ambassadors in Brussels as the country demands guarantees regarding the proposed phase-out of Russian fossil fuels by 2027-2028.

Prime Minister Robert Fico has conditioned Slovakia's support on receiving financial compensation, guaranteed access to affordable gas, maintained transit fees, and legal protection against potential Gazprom lawsuits worth €16-20 billion ($18.7-23.3 billion) related to contract termination.

Prime Minister Robert Fico has conditioned Slovakia's support on receiving financial compensation, guaranteed access to affordable gas, maintained transit fees, and legal protection against potential Gazprom lawsuits worth €16-20 billion ($18.7-23.3 billion) related to contract termination.

The sanctions package targets Russia's financial and energy sectors, including restrictions on the Nord Stream pipelines, and comes as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/russia-launches-record-drone-attack-after-trump-criticizes-putin">Moscow launched record-breaking drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities</a>, creating urgency among member states.

Baltictimes

The sanctions package targets Russia's financial and energy sectors, including restrictions on the Nord Stream pipelines, and comes as Moscow launched record-breaking drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, creating urgency among member states.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys have publicly criticized Slovakia's veto, with Merz urging Fico to drop resistance and Budrys calling the decision "unacceptable" and "anti-EU" behavior that undermines solidarity principles.</span

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys have publicly criticized Slovakia's veto, with Merz urging Fico to drop resistance and Budrys calling the decision "unacceptable" and "anti-EU" behavior that undermines solidarity principles.

Slovakia's opposition stems from concerns about the European Commission's REPowerEU proposal to end Russian energy imports, which the country argues will raise consumer prices, weaken competitiveness, and endanger energy security as a landlocked nation.</span

Slovakia's opposition stems from concerns about the European Commission's REPowerEU proposal to end Russian energy imports, which the country argues will raise consumer prices, weaken competitiveness, and endanger energy security as a landlocked nation.

Bilateral talks between Brussels and Bratislava have included expert missions to Slovakia focusing on energy diversification and price mitigation, but no breakthrough has been achieved despite positive statements from both sides about continued negotiations.</span

Bilateral talks between Brussels and Bratislava have included expert missions to Slovakia focusing on energy diversification and price mitigation, but no breakthrough has been achieved despite positive statements from both sides about continued negotiations.

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The sanctions package targets Russia's financial and energy sectors, including restrictions on the Nord Stream pipelines, and comes as Moscow launched record-breaking drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, creating urgency among member states.</span

Slovakia's position is entirely reasonable given the devastating economic consequences of rushing to end Russian gas imports. The country faces potential bankruptcy from Gazprom lawsuits and energy security collapse without proper compensation and alternative supply guarantees. Brussels is forcing ideological policies that will destroy Slovak industry while offering no concrete financial protection.

Slovakia's position is entirely reasonable given the devastating economic consequences of rushing to end Russian gas imports. The country faces potential bankruptcy from Gazprom lawsuits and energy security collapse without proper compensation and alternative supply guarantees. Brussels is forcing ideological policies that will destroy Slovak industry while offering no concrete financial protection.

Slovakia is selfishly undermining European unity and solidarity when Ukraine desperately needs maximum pressure on Russia. The country is holding critical sanctions hostage for narrow economic interests, weakening the EU's ability to respond to Russian aggression and betraying fundamental European values during wartime.

Slovakia is selfishly undermining European unity and solidarity when Ukraine desperately needs maximum pressure on Russia. The country is holding critical sanctions hostage for narrow economic interests, weakening the EU's ability to respond to Russian aggression and betraying fundamental European values during wartime.

Lithuanian_Fm_Calls_Slovakia_S_Veto_On_New_Eu_Sanctions_Against_Russia__Unacceptable_

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Slovakia Blocks EU Sanctions on Russia Over Gas Phase-Out

Armed conflict

Slovakia

Russia

After 17 sanctions packages already passed, Fico is rightfully standing up for his country against European elites who don't care how their geopolitical schemes affect sovereign nations. Slovakia's industries rely on affordable Russian gas, which is why Fico must defy Brussels to protect households and businesses from soaring prices. The EU has no right to impose its rogue agenda upon the people of Slovakia.

After 17 sanctions packages already passed, Fico is rightfully standing up for his country against European elites who don't care how their geopolitical schemes affect sovereign nations. Slovakia's industries rely on affordable Russian gas, which is why Fico must defy Brussels to protect households and businesses from soaring prices. The EU has no right to impose its rogue agenda upon the people of Slovakia.

European Conservative

Fico Tells Meloni Russian Gas Is Essential for Europe

Fico is protecting Russian interests, not Slovakia's. His reliance on Russian gas, despite Moscow's energy blackmail in Moldova and Transnistria, risks Europe's sovereignty. By obstructing EU efforts to diversify energy, Fico is driving up costs for Slovaks, as seen in Moldova's price hikes. His pro-Russia stance isolates Slovakia, weakens EU unity, and undermines competitiveness, hurting his own nation's future.

Fico is protecting Russian interests, not Slovakia's. His reliance on Russian gas, despite Moscow's energy blackmail in Moldova and Transnistria, risks Europe's sovereignty. By obstructing EU efforts to diversify energy, Fico is driving up costs for Slovaks, as seen in Moldova's price hikes. His pro-Russia stance isolates Slovakia, weakens EU unity, and undermines competitiveness, hurting his own nation's future.

Guardian

guardian

In Slovakia, our grassroots movement helped oust a neo-Nazi. We can do it again | Alexandra Bitušíková

The Washington Post

Russias gas pipeline politics risk alienating its European allies

There is a 12% chance that either the TurkStream or Blue Stream pipeline will unexpectedly cease transporting gas at any point in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 12% chance that either the TurkStream or Blue Stream pipeline will unexpectedly cease transporting gas at any point in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Slovakia Blocks EU Sanctions on Russia Over Gas Phase-Out

Slovakia Blocks EU Sanctions on Russia Over Gas Phase-Out

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Slovakia Blocks EU Sanctions on Russia Over Gas Phase-Out

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