Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated he will not support any European Union sanctions against Hungary for defending its national sovereignty, reinforcing his country’s alignment with Budapest on key geopolitical issues.
His remarks come in response to Estonia’s recent decision to back the initiation of EU proceedings against Hungary over its removal of several Russian individuals from the EU sanctions list before the bloc’s continued sanctions against Russia could be extended.
“The Slovak Republic will never support any EU sanctions against Hungary for its sovereign positions,” Fico wrote on social media, emphasizing this stance during a meeting with EU ambassadors aimed at discussing Slovakia’s position ahead of the upcoming European Council summit.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna advocated for triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Hungary — a provision that allows the EU to take action against a member state that is found to be in “persistent and serious” violation of core EU values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
“For political reasons, Hungary made the extension of sanctions conditional on the removal of Russian businessmen Viatcheslav Kantor, Mikhail Degtyarev, and Gulbakhor Ismailova from the sanctions list,” read a statement from the Estonian foreign ministry.
The Article 7 process requires the backing of four-fifths of EU member states before any potential sanctions, including the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights, can be considered. The final stage necessitates unanimous support from all remaining EU nations, a condition Slovakia has now explicitly opposed.
Hungary and Slovakia have both threatened to block the renewal of EU sanctions against Russia, which were set to expire without an agreement. Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán share a common stance on opposing anti-Russian sanctions and Western military aid to Ukraine.
In his address, Fico reaffirmed Slovakia’s position on Ukraine, stating that his country will not participate in any military mission in Ukraine nor allocate financial aid for military support to Kyiv.
He also expressed his willingness for another joint meeting between the Slovak and Ukrainian governments to discuss mutually beneficial projects and added that resuming natural gas transit through Ukraine was crucial for Europe’s competitiveness.
