Slovak diplomats have reportedly vetoed the latest 18th round of EU sanctions against Russia as the country seeks energy guarantees in connection with the EU’s phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports.

“The veto was reaffirmed during a meeting of ambassadors in Brussels, where the sanctions were put on the table for approval and once again blocked,” news server Euronews reported, citing its diplomatic sources.

The exercise of the veto comes as the EU is criticising Slovakia over mishandling corruption affairs and declining media freedom in the country, heralded by continued changes in public media, while seasoned journalists are leaving the largest commercial television station, Markíza, of the Czech PPF Group, as the TV is undergoing a makeover.  

The veto also comes as Russia launched its largest air attack on Ukraine, including on the western parts of the country, since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Last month, Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico took part in the EU summit in Brussels, where he threatened that Slovakia might not back the 18th round of sanctions targeting Russia’s financial and energy sectors unless it receives energy guarantees.

Previously, Fico slammed the EU plan to phase out the imports of Russian fossil fuels and mainly gas, imports of which to Slovakia spiked after he returned to power in Bratislava in the autumn of 2023.

At the same time, Fico also praised the European Commission for a constructive approach on Facebook, stating that “the proposal we are discussing directly mentions Slovakia, which confirms that the Commission is also aware of the possible serious consequences [of the phase-out] on our country.”   

Slovakia has a valid contract with Russian giant Gazprom under which the Russian side is committed to bringing its gas to Slovakia for free, covering gas transit fees all the way to the Slovak border. Fico also argued that Russia could sue Slovakia for over €20bn if the contract is ended before its expiry in 2035, and that Slovak gas transmission utility Eustream would lose income from gas transit fees.

Czech energy and media oligarch Daniel Křetínský’s EPH has a 49% stake and managerial control in Eustream, while Slovakia retains 51%.

Fico, who has intensified his pro-Kremlin turn since last autumn amid the faltering popularity of his Smer party, stressed he does not object to the sanctions package itself.

In the domestic politics, Smer, the junior ruling ultranationalist Slovak National Party (SNS) and non-parliamentary neofascist Republika all compete for the anti-establishment electorate in the country, which is traditionally anti-Western. Local analysts argue that the situation plays a large role in Fico's pro-Kremlin statements, while at the same time the populist PM does not want an open conflict with Brussels whose EU funds provide a lifline to Slovak's slowing economy. 

While in Brussels in June, Fico also made further comments, saying that Slovakia wants guarantees in connection with the EU plan of phasing out Russian fossil fuel imports. The phase-out plan does not require EU unanimity.

“When we won’t be harmed by this decision, when they guarantee sufficient volume of gas for a good price, when they guarantee transit fees, we pay now, when there are guarantees that in case of losing [the] court case with Gazprom someone will pay for us, then we will be satisfied,” Fico quoted as saying by the Slovak press agency TASR.

Slovakia nearly eradicated Russian gas imports during the winter of 2022-2023, but imports spiked following the return of the Fico-led government.

In an annual report on the state of the rule of law, the EC slammed Slovakia for systematic failure in targeting corruption, noting that “several high-profile cases were muted, or reclassified.”

Since returning to power, Fico’s cabinet pushed ahead with sweeping changes to the country’s judiciary, police, public media and even cultural institutions, despite country-wide protests.

“The abolition of the previous public service broadcaster and the establishment of a new entity continues to raise concerns about the autonomy of public service media,” the Slovak country chapter in the EC report reads, adding that “no measures have been taken to improve the safety and working environment of journalists.”