Photo: Yaroslav Novak / TASR
On Thursday, 5 June, the Slovak parliament passed a resolution obliging the government of Robert Fico not to vote for new international sanctions against Russia. This was reported by the TASR news agency.
The document titled “On the abandonment of the policy of sanctions and trade restrictions against the Russian Federation” was submitted by the government’s pro-Russian political partner, the Slovak National Party (SNS). It was supported by 51 out of 76 MPs present at the vote.
The essence of the resolution:
- Government members should refrain from voting for new sanctions against Russia in international organisations.
- It emphasises the need to protect Slovakia’s economic and energy interests.
- The resolution calls for measures to stabilise the energy market and reduce price volatility.
EU response:
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky criticised the decision, stressing that Prague sees no reason to lift the sanctions, which were renewed by the EU in May 2025 due to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
“Russia’s delay in the ceasefire talks only increases the need for pressure, including sanctions,” Lipavsky said.
Context:
- Slovakia remains a member of the EU and is formally obliged to follow the common foreign policy.
- The extension or adoption of new sanctions requires the unanimity of all EU member states.
- The adopted resolution is not legally binding, but it puts political pressure on the government, which has repeatedly demonstrated pro-Russian leanings.
