Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to block further European Union sanctions against Russia if, according to him, they jeopardize a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
He stated that it is not acceptable to “insist on sanctions at any cost.”
“There may come a time when we say that we disagree, or I think this contradicts the peaceful steps being taken now. If we perceive an attempt to impose further sanctions as something that undermines the peace process, we are ready to veto it,” said the Slovak prime minister.
Fico also suggested that the EU sanctions list, which includes more than 2,400 individuals and organizations, could be reduced in the coming weeks or months. He considers it “very dangerous for the EU’s image” if the European Union remains “the only one wanting to continue the war.”
Fico further rejects discussions about “rearming” Europe and the involvement of Slovak soldiers in any peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
In his opinion, such peacekeeping forces should only consist of countries that are not immediate neighbors of Ukraine and Russia.
