Slovakia pledges to block sanctions against Russia's nuclear power industry

Possible sanctions of the European Union (EU) against the Russian nuclear power industry will be blocked by Slovakia. This was stated by Prime Minister of the republic Robert Fitzo on December 20 after the EU summit.

"If any sanctions against the Russian Federation will be adopted in the future and if they will concern the peaceful atom program, I will block such sanctions. Our nuclear power plants are stations of Russian origin, whether we want it or not," TASS quoted him as saying.

Fitzo stressed that European sanctions that could jeopardize the nuclear program in Slovakia are unacceptable.

In 2023, the republic's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said Slovakia would oppose the inclusion of nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the European Union's (EU) 12th package of anti-Russian sanctions. He pointed out that the inclusion of nuclear fuel in the list of restrictions against Russia would have a negative impact on Slovakia itself. Therefore, according to the minister, this is a red line.

At the same time, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto, speaking about the new package of anti-Russian restrictions, emphasized that Hungary had made it clear to the EU that nuclear energy could not be restricted in any way, and added that the country would never agree to the imposition of such restrictions.

Western countries have tightened sanctions pressure on Russia in connection with the special operation to protect Donbass. The decision to launch it was announced on February 24, 2022 after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.