The Slovak Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanar, announced that Slovakia is prepared to back a 20th package of sanctions against Russia, following indications of a potential resumption of oil supplies. This statement came after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on April 21.
Blanar noted that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has reported the completion of repairs on a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which had been damaged by a Russian strike. This restoration could enable the pipeline to resume operations.
“We received a signal regarding the possible resumption of oil deliveries, and I can only emphasize that we are ready to support even the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, as we assess that this will not have a significant impact on the Slovak economy,” Blanar stated. However, he clarified that Slovakia would only proceed with this support if Russian oil is delivered through the Druzhba pipeline.
He further explained that there is currently no confirmed information regarding the resumption of oil supplies and informed his colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council that this decision is politically motivated, stemming from President Zelensky’s stance against allowing oil shipments to Slovakia and Hungary.
Previously, Blanar had indicated that Slovakia was willing to block a new sanctions package against Russia but would not oppose providing Ukraine with a €90 billion loan. On the same day, Czech Foreign Minister Petr Matuska confirmed that both Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to support the EU loan to Kyiv and the 20th sanctions package if Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has expressed the country's readiness to support a new sanctions package against Russia, contingent on the resumption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. The decision is linked to Ukraine's restoration of the pipeline, highlighting ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.