BRATISLAVA – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared on Sunday that Slovakia will oppose any European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia that compromise its national interests, following the approval of a parliamentary resolution urging the government not to support new punitive measures.
Speaking at a news conference streamed on his party’s YouTube channel, Fico emphasized that while Slovakia aims to remain a constructive EU member, it will not do so at the cost of domestic well-being.
“If there is a sanction that would harm us, I will never vote for it,” he said.
The resolution, passed in a sparsely attended session of parliament, directs the government to reject any new EU sanctions or trade restrictions targeting Russia. It remains unclear whether the resolution carries binding constitutional authority, but Fico described it as a “strong political tool.”
Slovakia, a member of NATO and the EU, has distanced itself from mainstream Western support for Ukraine under Fico’s leftist-nationalist coalition. The government has halted official state military aid to Kyiv and consistently opposed trade sanctions against Moscow, arguing such measures inflict greater damage on the EU and Slovak economy than on Russia.
Fico reiterated that he would not support any action that might halt imports of Russian fuel, particularly 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,” he said.
While Slovakia has not vetoed any previous EU sanctions — including the 17th sanctions package adopted in May targeting Russia’s shadow fleet — it has joined countries like Hungary in resisting efforts to restrict Russian gas and nuclear energy imports. These sectors remain vital to Slovakia’s energy security, and opposition from Bratislava continues to pose a significant hurdle for broader EU sanctions in these areas.