9 hours agoSlovakia seeks Russian gas deal to veto EU sanctions
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Slovakia is seeking to reach an agreement with European partners regarding Russian gas supplies by Tuesday, in order to adopt a new EU sanctions package against Russia, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced. He told reporters in Bratislava that he wants “to resolve this by Tuesday, because tensions are [...]
He told reporters in Bratislava that he wants “to resolve this by Tuesday, because tensions are increasing from all sides”.
It becomes known that so far, Slovakia has kept its veto in the 18th package of sanctions to be implemented in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Bratislava has blocked the package due to concerns over a proposed gradual removal of all Russian fossil fuels by 2028, fearing that this could harm the country's economic interests.
Slovakia receives most of its gas from Russia and has a long-term contract with Russia's Gazprom, worth until 2034.
Fico wants legal guarantees if Gazprom claims possible contract violation, writes euronews , Transmitt Periscope
“We have to gain something in this battle, although it won't be a 100-0-8x1> result, Fico said.
He noted that he had spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the issue, stressing that Slovakia would remove its veto if a gas-stop deal is reached.
Otherwise, the latest package of sanctions, uncovered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen and senior representative Kaya Kallas, puts 22 Russian banks on the blacklist and extends the ban on transactions for outside-country subjects that contribute to the bypassing of sanctions. /Periscope
