New EU sanctions on Russia on hold after opposition from Slovakia

A new set of European Union sanctions on Russia fell short of the required unanimous backing after Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said he is not ready to endorse the proposal, citing concerns over Slovakia’s gas imports.

EU leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss further support for Ukraine, including new restrictive measures for Moscow, prolonging existing sanctions and Kiev’s path to EU membership.

The proposed 18th sanctions package, put forward by the European Commission, targets Russia’s financial and energy sectors in response to President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.

New Russia sanctions in limbo due to gas dispute

Ahead of the EU summit, Fico had already threatened to veto the sanctions as he fears repercussions from a separate energy bill. Slovakia objects to the plans by Brussels to completely stop gas-supply contracts with Russia from the start of 2028.

A meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the issue was “very constructive and pragmatic,” Fico said in a video message posted on X, but did not find a solution.

Fico fears supply and legal problems. Slovakia has a supply contract with Russia’s Gazprom which is valid until 2034. The European Commission wants to terminate the contract on the grounds of “force majeure.”

However, Fico had warned that this justification would not hold up in an international court of arbitration, meaning that Slovakia would then be stuck with billions in fines.

“This will harm us unless an agreement is reached with the European Commission that would compensate us for all the damage this proposal might cause,” he said.

“This issue must be resolved first. Let’s define the solution, and only then can we discuss further sanction packages,” Fico added.

The premier also announced that representatives from the commission will visit Slovakia next week in an attempt to find a solution.

Zelensky pleads for continued support from the EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged EU leaders to back the new set of measures in an address by video-link.

“Ukraine is ready for a just peace, and Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire,” he said.

“It’s Russia that blocks everything, and this is why pressure must increase,” he added.

“Sanctions against Russia remain one of the most effective tools for limiting its aggression. What’s needed now is a truly strong 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia.”

EU leaders however endorsed prolonging existing sanctions.

Zelensky also urged leaders to allow Ukraine to go ahead with EU membership talks, a decisions which also requires unanimity, and which is currently blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

“Ukraine is meeting all its commitments for EU accession, and we truly mean it,” Zelensky said.

“What’s needed now is a clear political message that Ukraine is firmly on the European path and that Europe stands by its promises,” he added.

“If we would integrate Ukraine into the European Union, we would integrate the war,” Orbán said in Brussels.

“We would not like to be together in one community with a country who is [at] war and represents an imminent danger [to] us,” he stressed.

Some leaders ousted their discontent with the stalled process.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed regret that Ukraine cannot move ahead in the accession process despite “putting in a lot of effort and doing quite well in implementing the reforms.”

“One country cannot misuse an instrument of consensus,” he said.