Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has expressed reservations regarding the European Union’s proposed 20th sanctions package against Russia, suggesting that further sanctions could disrupt ongoing peace negotiations. His comments were made during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on February 23.
Blanar emphasized that Slovakia, following Hungary’s lead, believes that the imposition of additional sanctions at this juncture could hinder diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict. He stated, “The Slovak Republic has essentially raised a political caution in the sense that we consider the ongoing peace talks—whether in Abu Dhabi or later in Geneva, involving the United States, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation—critical. The adoption of further sanctions could interrupt these peace negotiations.”
Highlighting Slovakia’s commitment to a peaceful resolution, Blanar reiterated, “According to our approach from the very beginning, this issue should be resolved peacefully; therefore, we do not support this.” He noted that Slovakia’s reservations remain in place as discussions continue, and the country is awaiting assurances from the European Commission regarding the potential impact of the sanctions on the peace talks.
Several other nations, particularly those with maritime ports, have also voiced concerns about the proposed sanctions package. Blanar remarked, “The discussion is ongoing, and we will see how it concludes.”
In related developments, the EU Council was unable to approve the 20th sanctions package on February 20 due to Hungary’s opposition. Furthermore, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán recently informed European Council President Charles Michel in a letter that he would block the allocation of €90 billion to Ukraine until Kyiv resumes oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline. On the same day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that the Druzhba pipeline was not damaged by Russian missiles, asserting instead that Ukraine had made a political decision to halt oil supplies to Hungary to support the Hungarian opposition in upcoming elections.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has raised concerns about the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia, arguing that it could disrupt ongoing peace negotiations. His remarks reflect a broader hesitance among some EU nations regarding the timing and implications of further sanctions amid diplomatic efforts.
Source: Європейська правда