Slovak PM threatens to dam EU’s twentieth Russia sanctions bundle amid Druzhba pipeline dispute

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has instructed the European Fee he’ll block the twentieth sanctions bundle towards Russia until the EU places stress on Ukraine to renew the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.

Supply: Fico in a video deal with, as reported by European Pravda, citing Slovak non-public information channel ta3

Particulars: In Fico's video, the European Fee and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are available in for harsh criticism over the state of affairs surrounding the Druzhba pipeline, which the Slovak prime minister describes as a "deliberate violation" of Bratislava's pursuits.

Fico accused the European Fee of "double requirements", arguing that it locations Ukraine's pursuits above these of EU member states.

He claimed that Slovakia has acquired a "threatening letter" from Brussels over its measures to guard the home gas market whereas Ukraine receives "letters full of affection and understanding".

On this context, Fico has threatened to dam the adoption of the twentieth sanctions bundle towards Russia and to rethink his place on Ukraine's EU accession.

Quote: "The European Fee has completed nothing to make the Ukrainian president do something…

If the European Fee intends to proceed behaving on this method and inserting Ukraine's pursuits above Slovakia's, it could actually overlook about help for the twentieth bundle of sanctions towards the Russian Federation or us being prepared to facilitate Ukraine's swift accession to the EU."

Background:

• Fico had indicated earlier that sooner or later he may be a part of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in blocking the EU's €90 billion mortgage for Ukraine, which, just like the twentieth Russia sanctions bundle, is being held up by Hungary.
• On 23 February, Fico stated he had ordered the suspension of emergency electrical energy provides to Ukraine as a result of provides of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline had not resumed.
• In March, Slovakia's police launched an investigation towards Fico, who has been accused of treason by the opposition for halting emergency electrical energy provides to Ukraine.

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