Fico promised to send the EU’s “written proposal” to the heads of all political parties in Slovakia and said he would await their comments.
The Slovak Prime Minister did not clarify what the EU’s “guarantees” include. He reiterated that Slovakia will not support the sanctions package unless the EU provides “at least minimal guarantees” on how to manage the consequences of what he called a “demagogic and harmful” proposal to end Russian gas supplies by Jan. 1, 2028.
“The obsession with Russia is so strong that we have no chance of forcing the Commission to withdraw its gas proposal. Not to mention that the European Commission will push it through even if we vote against it a hundred times,” he claimed.
Fico added that this is not a dispute that can be won “with a 100% result,” but it also must not be entirely lost.
“If you want to live with wolves, you have to howl with them," the Slovak PM concluded.
"That is, unfortunately, the harsh reality of today’s union. That’s why we must fight to the end for an acceptable compromise.”
On June 10, the EU presented its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes restrictions on the aggressor state's energy and banking sectors. It proposes a ban on transactions related to the Nord Stream pipelines, limits on the export of dual-use goods and technologies, and lowering the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel.
On June 26, EU member states failed to reach an agreement on adopting the 18th sanctions package. However, they agreed to extend existing restrictions for another six months.
On June 30, European Pravda reported that Slovakia and Hungary were blocking the adoption of the 18th sanctions package, with Bratislava demanding guarantees in connection with the full phase-out of Russian gas by 2028.
On July 3, Radio Free Europe journalist Rikard Jozwiak said the sanctions package could soon be adopted after the EU provided Slovakia with the necessary assurances on energy issues.
However, on July 4, EU ambassadors again failed to reach a consensus on the sanctions package.