Hungary and Slovakia Oppose EU Sanctions on Russia over Energy Dependency

Hungary and Slovakia have taken a firm stance against the European Union's proposed 18th sanctions package targeting Russia. The decision, announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, highlights the two countries' reliance on affordable Russian natural gas and oil, central to their energy strategies.

Both nations oppose the EU's move to phase out Russian energy imports, a plan that they argue unjustly limits their access to cost-effective resources. Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia emphasized that without an adequate solution from the European Commission, they cannot support the sanctions, which require unanimity across the bloc.

The pushback occurs amidst ongoing tensions from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and economic impacts, such as rising energy prices partly due to global geopolitical events. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also urged the EU to reconsider the energy import ban, underscoring the complex dynamics and dependencies within the European energy market.

(With inputs from agencies.)