Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, has said he would support a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia should one be organised.
The left-wing nationalist politician has opposed EU sanctions, saying they harm EU member states more than they do Russia.
Talking to public broadcasting network STVR on Saturday, May 17th, Fico said Russian industry and science have adapted well to the sanctions, and are able to produce what sanctions prohibit them from importing.
In early May, Slovak president Peter Pellegrini received a petition from the Slovak Renaissance Movement calling for a referendum on lifting sanctions against Russia.
Pellegrini stated that he would evaluate the petition, which garnered 400,000 signatures, and decide within thirty days whether to call a referendum. Fico said, “If such a referendum is held, I will support it without hesitation.”
The prime minister also called out EU leaders for their failed strategy concerning the Russia-Ukraine war.
“How can we be preparing a large-scale package of sanctions against Russia at a time when peace talks are underway?” he said, referring to EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen’s statement last week that the EU was preparing an 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
Fico pointed out that although many countries publicly reject Russian energy sources, several member states, including Spain, continue to buy Russian liquefied natural gas, and five countries still use Russian nuclear fuel.
He added that the Commission’s strategy of breaking away from Russian energy sources is ideologically driven and destructive to European competitiveness.
