PM Modi arrives in Slovakia: Welcome with traditional bread and salt ceremony, to meet top leaders today
EU envoys will consider the 20th sanctions package against Russia and a 90 billion euro Ukraine loan on April 22, with approval possible within 24 hours if Hungary and Slovakia don't object, pending Druzhba pipeline oil restoration conditions.
Slovakia threatens to veto the EU's twentieth Russia sanctions package unless the Druzhba pipeline, damaged by Russian attack in January, resumes operations, exposing tensions between energy security and collective EU foreign policy coordination.
Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said his country would permit a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine while potentially blocking new Russian sanctions, conditioning support on restoring the Druzhba oil pipeline, though he clarified the positions remain separate.
PM Modi Arrives in Slovakia After Historic France Visit
EU envoys met Wednesday seeking approval of a delayed 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine, with Hungary potentially lifting its veto after Ukraine repaired the Russian oil pipeline, offering cautious optimism after months of deadlock.
Slovakia conditioned its support for the EU's twentieth sanctions package against Russia on Druzhba pipeline reactivation, while backing a ninety billion euro Ukraine loan, leveraging energy interests amid broader EU-Russia tensions.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico led a high-level delegation to Vietnam, the first foreign government visit since Vietnam's recent party congress, aiming to elevate bilateral relations and expand cooperation across defense, trade, energy, and technology sectors.
Slovakia aims to boost trade and investments with Southeast Asian countries.
At least five EU foreign ministers will push for Israel sanctions this week, citing potential executions of Palestinians, with more than half the bloc likely supportive, though Germany and Italy's positions remain crucial for any trade agreement suspension.
Slovakia's foreign minister threatened to veto EU sanctions against Russia unless the Druzhba pipeline, damaged in January, resumes operations, highlighting tensions between national energy security and collective EU foreign policy amid broader pipeline repair disputes.