Slovakia's Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár (SMER-SD), will ask EU counterparts to postpone a vote on a new package of anti-Russian sanctions, particularly regarding a proposed ban on Russian gas imports. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced this at a press conference on Sunday, explaining that Slovakia intends to negotiate for exemptions or concessions related to the gas ban.
The sanctions vote is scheduled for Wednesday, and the Slovak government plans to use it as leverage to protect its energy interests. Fico has warned of the potential risks to Slovakia’s energy security if Russian energy imports are completely halted.
Opposition figures, such as Karol Galek of SaS, argue that Slovakia is already well-positioned to substitute Russian gas, with domestic provider SPP sourcing nearly 70% of gas from other sources, including Norway and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Hlas-SD) also pointed out that Slovakia is working to diversify its energy sources, including nuclear fuel imports from France and the United States.
Source: STVR
