Slovak PM Robert Fico (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
Slovakia’s
government rejected a proposal to extend the European Union’s individual
sanctions regime against Russia for 12 months, according to three diplomats who
spoke to Politico
on Sept. 3.
The measures, which have been extended repeatedly in
six-month increments, expire Sept. 15. The bloc had hoped to extend the
sanctions for a longer period to avoid repeated negotiations, but any change
requires the unanimous support of all 27 EU member countries.
The six-month renewal cycle was originally a compromise
intended to appease former Hungarian PM Viktor Orban. Budapest used the regular
deadlines to pressure other EU governments and seek concessions. The bloc’s
ambassadors failed to reach an agreement on the proposal. Slovakia was the only
country to block it.
“Obviously, they have some objections; I think we have heard
them before,” one EU diplomat said.
A Slovak government spokesperson declined to comment.
Instead, the spokesperson distributed a statement from the Foreign Ministry
saying: “Discussions on the regular six-month review of the sanctions regime
… are continuing and are expected to be completed by Sept. 15, 2026.”
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