Slovakia’s sanctions stance: Fico’s threat and the Russian energy trap

Slovakia will block any European Union sanctions against Russia that harm its national interests, Prime Minister Robert Fico declared Sunday (8 July), amplifying tensions within the bloc as it grapples with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a press conference streamed on his Smer-SSD party’s YouTube channel, Fico framed his position as a defence of Slovakia’s energy security, particularly its reliance on Russian nuclear fuel and gas.

“If there is a sanction that would harm us, I will never vote for it,” Fico told a news conference shown on his party’s YouTube page.

Fico said he could not support any measure stopping the import of Russian fuel for Slovakia’s nuclear power plants.

“I am interested in being a constructive player in the European Union, but not at the expense of Slovakia.”

The announcement follows a parliamentary resolution, passed in a sparsely attended session on 5 June, urging the government to oppose new EU sanctions.

While Fico’s rhetoric echoes Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who has repeatedly threatened but never fully blocked sanctions, the credibility of his stance and Slovakia’s deep energy dependence raise questions about the EU’s ability to maintain unity.

Fico’s threat is rooted in Slovakia’s economic vulnerabilities. The country, a NATO and EU member, has diverged from Western allies under Fico’s leftist-nationalist coalition, halting state military aid to Ukraine and criticising sanctions as more damaging to the EU than to Moscow. The resolution, spearheaded by the far-right Slovak National Party, a junior coalition partner, commits the government to reject new trade restrictions. Though its constitutional weight is unclear, Fico called it a “strong political tool” for EU negotiations, signalling his intent to leverage Slovakia’s veto power in the bloc’s unanimous decision-making process.

Yet, Fico’s track record tempers the threat’s immediacy. Slovakia has not blocked any of the EU’s 17 sanctions packages, including the May 2025 measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet. Like Orbán, who has secured concessions after similar threats, Fico may be posturing to extract exemptions or financial aid rather than derailing EU policy outright. His emphasis on being a “constructive player” suggests a pragmatic approach, balancing domestic populism with diplomatic realities.

At the heart of Fico’s position is Slovakia’s dependence on Russian energy, especially nuclear fuel. The country’s four Soviet-designed VVER reactors at Bohunice and Mochovce generate half its electricity, relying almost entirely on fuel from Russia’s Rosatom via its TVEL subsidiary. Fico explicitly rejected sanctions that would halt these imports, warning of catastrophic disruptions. Transitioning to alternative suppliers like Westinghouse or Framatome is a years-long process, requiring costly testing and regulatory approvals. This vulnerability gives Russia leverage, as Moscow could retaliate against sanctions by cutting supplies, a risk Fico is unwilling to take. The EU’s push to phase out Russian energy by 2027 has met resistance from Slovakia and Hungary, both reliant on VVER reactors, underscoring a structural barrier to sanctions targeting Russia’s nuclear sector.

Addicted to Russian gas

Slovakia’s gas dependence further complicates its position. The country imports 85% of its natural gas from Russia, primarily via pipelines through Ukraine. The January 2025 halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, after Kyiv refused to renew a transit deal, has intensified Slovakia’s energy woes. Fico has accused Ukraine of economic sabotage and threatened to cut electricity exports to Kyiv, highlighting the stakes. While Slovakia has secured some alternative supplies from Norway and LNG terminals in Poland and Croatia, these are pricier and insufficient to replace Russian gas fully. Rejecting an EU compensation package to shift away from Moscow’s supplies, Fico argued that Russia remains a more cost-effective partner, a stance that resonates with voters facing rising energy costs but strains relations with Brussels.

The EU’s sanctions strategy at a crossroads

Unanimity gives Slovakia and Hungary outsized influence, frustrating larger members like France and Germany. Fico’s alignment with Orbán, who threatened to block sanctions over gas transit, amplifies their leverage, though Slovakia’s smaller economic weight limits its staying power compared to Hungary. The EU has historically overcome such obstacles through compromises, such as energy exemptions or financial incentives, but repeated concessions risk undermining the bloc’s resolve. Fico’s refusal to support military aid to Ukraine and his pro-Russia rhetoric have drawn sharp criticism, with Ukraine accusing him of echoing Kremlin propaganda. Domestically, opposition exists – President Peter Pellegrini rejected a far-right referendum on lifting sanctions – but public support for Fico’s stance, evidenced by 400,000 signatures backing the referendum, complicates Slovakia’s alignment with EU priorities.

With Reuters, edited by g.g.

Caption: Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) arrives for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 9 May 2025. Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II over Nazi Germany and its allies. [EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS POOL]

Updated: June 9, 2025 - 06:01