### Slovakia's Defiant Stance on EU Sanctions Against Russia - Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared that the country will not support the European Union's new package of sanctions against Russia, citing concerns that these measures could lead to a national crisis. This decision marks a significant shift in Slovakia's foreign policy, as it prioritizes national interests over EU directives, particularly regarding energy dependence on Russia. Fico's government is demanding that the European Commission address these energy concerns before Slovakia can consider backing any sanctions [https://www.rt.com/news/618936-slovakia-wont-back-eu-russia-sanctions][https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3454882-slovakia-stands-firm-against-eu-sanctions-over-russian-energy]. ### Breakdown of Slovakia's Position on EU Sanctions 1. **National Interests at Stake**: Fico has emphasized that any sanctions harming Slovakia's national interests will be blocked. This stance was reinforced by a parliamentary resolution urging the government to oppose new sanctions [https://www.reuters.com/world/pm-fico-says-slovakia-will-block-eu-sanctions-russia-if-they-harm-national-2025-06-08][https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/pm-fico-says-slovakia-will-block-eu-sanctions-on-russia-if-they-harm-national-interests]. 2. **Energy Dependence Concerns**: Slovakia's reliance on Russian energy supplies is a critical factor in its decision-making process. Fico has stated that without a viable solution from the European Commission to mitigate the impact of phasing out Russian energy, Slovakia cannot support the sanctions [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3454882-slovakia-stands-firm-against-eu-sanctions-over-russian-energy][https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/slovakia-threatens-to-block-new-eu-sanctions-1749652784.html]. 3. **Parliamentary Support**: The Slovak parliament's recent resolution reflects a broader political consensus against the sanctions, indicating a significant shift in Slovakia's alignment with EU policies [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3448473-slovakias-controversial-stand-parliament-votes-against-sanctions-on-russia][https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3448762-slovakias-parliament-challenges-eu-sanction-policy]. ### Evidence Supporting Slovakia's Position - **Parliamentary Resolution**: The Slovak parliament passed a resolution urging the government to oppose new sanctions, highlighting a political shift away from EU consensus [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3448473-slovakias-controversial-stand-parliament-votes-against-sanctions-on-russia]. - **Public Statements by Fico**: Fico's repeated assertions that Slovakia will block sanctions detrimental to national interests underscore the government's commitment to prioritizing domestic concerns over EU directives [https://www.reuters.com/world/pm-fico-says-slovakia-will-block-eu-sanctions-russia-if-they-harm-national-2025-06-08][https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3451475-slovakias-firm-stance-prioritizing-national-interests-over-eu-sanctions]. ### Conclusion: Slovakia's Position on EU Sanctions - **Key Findings**: 1. Slovakia's government, led by Prime Minister Fico, is firmly against new EU sanctions on Russia that threaten national interests. 2. The country is particularly concerned about its energy dependence on Russia and demands solutions from the EU before considering any sanctions. 3. A parliamentary resolution supports this stance, indicating a significant shift in Slovakia's foreign policy direction. - **Overall Implication**: Slovakia's refusal to back EU sanctions could lead to tensions within the EU, as it prioritizes national interests over collective European actions against Russia [https://www.rt.com/news/618936-slovakia-wont-back-eu-russia-sanctions][https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3454882-slovakia-stands-firm-against-eu-sanctions-over-russian-energy].