Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that any efforts to speed up Ukraine’s bid to join the EU would also be blocked if the issue is not resolved.
Bratislava will veto the EU’s proposed 20th sanctions package against Russia, as well as derail any efforts to simplify Kiev’s potential entry into the bloc, if Brussels continues to favor Ukraine over Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned.
Slovakia, as well as its southern neighbor Hungary, have been locked in a bitter dispute with Ukraine since late January, when the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil to both countries, was taken offline. Kiev has claimed it was harmed by Russian strikes, a charge Moscow denies.
Both Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of deliberately blocking supplies for political blackmail and have threatened to take retaliatory measures if the pipeline is not kept operational. Kiev has claimed that the artery is being repaired but the deadline has been repeatedly changed.
Speaking in a video address posted on his Facebook page late Saturday, Fico lamented the treatment his country was receiving from EU bureaucrats. That is, the bloc has threatened Bratislava with consequences over its domestic protective measures, the prime minister said, including diesel rationing for foreigners.
“The European Commission immediately sent us a threatening letter within two days, in which it threatened all possible actions. It is strange that the same language is not used in reference to (Vladimir) Zelensky; they are full of love and understanding.” Feeko said.
Should the attitude remain the same and should the EU Commission continue to do so “Favour Ukraine over Slovakia” Bratislava will block the proposed 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions, and will also no longer demonstrate “Ukraine’s desire to quickly join the Union,” PM warned
The sanctions package over the Druzhba dispute is already in limbo, as the initiative was vetoed by Hungary, another victim of the pipeline shutdown. Budapest has also derailed a proposed €90 billion ($104 billion) EU aid package for Kiev that member states agreed to late last year. Without the emergency loan, Ukraine is projected to run out of money by June, according to Bloomberg.
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