Slovakia Breaks EU Ranks, Joins Hungary in Blocking Russian Gas Ban

Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán | Source: Slovak Media Monitor | AI-generated with editorial oversight

Slovakia has formally joined Hungary in opposing a proposed European Union ban on Russian gas imports, signalling a sharp turn in its foreign policy under Prime Minister Robert Fico and aligning Bratislava more closely with Budapest’s obstructionist stance on EU-wide sanctions. During a closed-door meeting of EU energy ministers on 16 June 2025, Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár, withheld support for a joint statement backing the proposed embargo—despite overwhelming endorsement from 25 other member states—arguing, in line with Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, that energy sovereignty must take precedence over coordinated sanctions. The European Commission plans to advance the measure using the reinforced majority rule, bypassing the need for unanimity, but Slovakia’s decision to publicly break consensus reflects a departure from earlier government protocols designed to avoid diplomatic isolation. According to Ivan Novotný, a former senior diplomat who served directly in Blanár’s cabinet before being dismissed in a sweeping and controversial reshuffle, the Fico government initially instructed officials to avoid siding with Hungary alone on EU matters; the abandonment of this principle, he warns, marks a deepening alignment with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s foreign policy model—raising fears that Slovakia may be drifting toward strategic marginalisation within the EU at a moment of heightened geopolitical stakes.

Under a forthcoming proposal by the European Commission, the European Union is expected to introduce a legislative plan to ban imports of Russian natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2027. The proposed measure, which aims to curtail a major source of revenue funding Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, is designed to proceed without requiring unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Instead, it would rely on the “reinforced majority” mechanism—a legal basis that allows passage if supported by at least 15 countries representing 65% of the EU population.

Ahead of the legislative rollout, 25 member states had expressed support for the initiative during a closed-door meeting of EU energy ministers. However, both Hungary and Slovakia blocked the issuing of a joint ministerial statement endorsing the proposed ban. According to Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, the country exercised its veto because “energy policy is a national competence,” adding that the proposed measure would endanger Hungarian energy sovereignty. A spokesperson for Slovakia’s Permanent Representation to the EU confirmed that Slovakia had also declined to support the joint statement.

Slovakia’s decision marks a significant shift in its foreign policy posture. Under previous arrangements, Slovak officials were instructed to oppose EU-level proposals only if the country would not find itself isolated alongside Hungary in doing so. According to Ivan Novotný, a former senior diplomat who served directly in the cabinet of Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, these instructions, issued by the Office of the Government during the early tenure of the current administration, reflected a strategic effort to avoid diplomatic alignment with Budapest on contentious issues. Novotný noted that at that time, “it still mattered how we were perceived by other partners.”

This approach has now apparently changed. Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár, a member of the government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, acted in accordance with a new position that no longer prioritises alignment with wider EU consensus. The shift has led some observers to argue that Slovakia is increasingly mirroring Hungary’s pattern of opposition within EU structures.

Novotný contended that Slovakia’s current direction in foreign policy is becoming nearly indistinguishable from that of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He further warned that this path could ultimately result in Slovakia becoming politically and economically isolated within the European Union, stating that “at the end of this road, our country and its citizens will find themselves outside the EU—sovereignly weak and looking in all directions, alone.”

The European Commission is expected to present the final legal draft of the gas ban proposal imminently. While most energy ministers have signalled their support, concerns remain among some member states over the potential legal or financial consequences for companies with long-term gas contracts. These concerns are expected to be addressed in the Commission’s formal legislative proposal.

Sources: Reuters | Ivan Novotný