Czech PM urges Fico to back sanctions, cites shared Soviet past

PRAGUE – Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has called on his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico not to block the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, invoking their nations’ shared history of Soviet occupation and the urgent need to maintain European unity in the face of Russian aggression.

In a letter to Fico on Sunday, Fiala appealed to their “shared painful experience of Moscow’s aggressive policies and the Kremlin-ordered occupation” – a reference to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 – and emphasised the importance of standing together within NATO and the EU.

Slovakia is currently blocking the EU sanctions over concerns tied to energy security, particularly a proposed EU ban on Russian gas imports by the end of 2027.

Fiala argued that his plea was made “not only for the Ukrainian civilians who are facing increasingly intense Russian bombardment,” but also in the interest of preserving unity among democratic countries.

"Given the exceptionally close ties between our countries, I asked him to reconsider Slovakia’s position on the 18th sanctions package and contribute to preserving the unity and resolve with which the democratic world is confronting Russian aggression," Fiala told Czech news agency on Sunday.

Slovakia remains heavily reliant on Russian gas, importing around 3 billion cubic metres per year.

This accounted for roughly 65% of its total gas consumption in 2023, and there are fears that a phase-out could lead to shortages, higher prices and complications with the country's contract with Gazprom, which runs until 2034.

On Saturday, Fico said he hoped to reach a deal by Tuesday that would address Slovakia’s demands, repeating that if Slovakia receives at least some guarantees, it would not stand in the way of the EU moving forward with the sanctions vote.