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Russia Today
06-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU nation's parliament passes historic Russia sanctions resolution
The Slovak parliament has passed a resolution opposing sanctions on Russia. The motion prohibits government representatives from supporting new international restrictions against Moscow, citing economic harm to Slovakia's industry and population. Of the 76 MPs present for the vote on Thursday, 55 voted in favor, 23 abstained, and one opposed the resolution. Opposition lawmakers were absent from the vote. The resolution, introduced by the Slovak National Party (SNS), claims sanctions have triggered rising energy costs, disrupted supply chains, and hurt the EU nation's competitiveness. It urges the government to prioritize national economic interests and resist international actions that may negatively impact Slovak businesses and citizens. 'This is a historic document, the first of its kind within the EU,' SNS leader Andrej Danko said. 'It clearly states that sanctions against Russia harm Slovakia's economy and the plenary session of the Slovak parliament has agreed.' Danko had said he was unsure the motion would pass, as the vote came a day after President Peter Pellegrini blocked a petition calling for a nationwide referendum on the same issue. The petition, initiated by the Slovak Revival Movement (SHO) and the DOMOV party, asked: 'Do you agree that Slovakia should not apply sanctions against Russia that harm Slovak citizens and entrepreneurs?' It gathered more than 400,000 signatures – well over the 350,000 required for presidential consideration – and was submitted to Pellegrini in May. The president had said on Wednesday that he could not approve the referendum due to vague wording. He noted the petition didn't specify whether it referred to future or existing sanctions, nor did it define which measures would qualify as harmful or who would determine that. Danko responded by mocking Pellegrini for 'having the courage' to ignore the will of hundreds of thousands of citizens. He said that if the president had doubts about the legality of the text, he should have referred it to the Constitutional Court. Slovakia implemented all EU sanctions on Russia after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022. Prime Minister Robert Fico, who returned to office in 2023, has consistently argued against the measures, saying they 'are not working' and damage EU member states more than they affect Moscow. Following the vote, Danko said the resolution would require Fico to oppose any new EU sanctions targeting Russia. However, he cautioned that Pellegrini still has the power to veto the resolution.
Russia Today
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU nation's parliament opposes Russia sanctions
The Slovak parliament has passed a resolution opposing sanctions on Russia. The motion prohibits government representatives from supporting new international restrictions against Moscow, citing economic harm to Slovakia's industry and population. Of the 76 MPs present for the vote on Thursday, 55 voted in favor, 23 abstained, and one opposed the resolution. Opposition lawmakers were absent from the vote. The resolution, introduced by the Slovak National Party (SNS), claims sanctions have triggered rising energy costs, disrupted supply chains, and hurt the EU nation's competitiveness. It urges the government to prioritize national economic interests and resist international actions that may negatively impact Slovak businesses and citizens. 'This is a historic document, the first of its kind within the EU,' SNS leader Andrej Danko said. 'It clearly states that sanctions against Russia harm Slovakia's economy and the plenary session of the Slovak parliament has agreed.' Danko had said he was unsure the motion would pass, as the vote came a day after President Peter Pellegrini blocked a petition calling for a nationwide referendum on the same issue. The petition, initiated by the Slovak Revival Movement (SHO) and the DOMOV party, asked: 'Do you agree that Slovakia should not apply sanctions against Russia that harm Slovak citizens and entrepreneurs?' It gathered more than 400,000 signatures – well over the 350,000 required for presidential consideration – and was submitted to Pellegrini in May. The president had said on Wednesday that he could not approve the referendum due to vague wording. He noted the petition didn't specify whether it referred to future or existing sanctions, nor did it define which measures would qualify as harmful or who would determine that. Danko responded by mocking Pellegrini for 'having the courage' to ignore the will of hundreds of thousands of citizens. He said that if the president had doubts about the legality of the text, he should have referred it to the Constitutional Court. Slovakia implemented all EU sanctions on Russia after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022. Prime Minister Robert Fico, who returned to office in 2023, has consistently argued against the measures, saying they 'are not working' and damage EU member states more than they affect Moscow. Following the vote, Danko said the resolution would require Fico to oppose any new EU sanctions targeting Russia. However, he cautioned that Pellegrini still has the power to veto the resolution.
Russia Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Slovakia party to demand Ukraine compensate aid
Lawmakers in Slovakia's ruling coalition will push to demand compensation from Kiev for the military and financial aid Bratislava has provided it over the course of the Ukraine conflict, according to state news agency TASR. The Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko will call on Prime Minister Robert Fico to begin EU proceedings regarding the bloc's stake in Ukrainian mineral production, following the example of the US, head of the lawmaker's office, Zuzana Skopcova told TASR on Saturday. Washington, Kiev's biggest military donor, inked a major minerals agreement with it last month, giving the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral wealth. President Donald Trump has touted the deal as a way for the US to reclaim hundreds of billions of dollars in aid spent on supporting Ukraine. Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka has since described the preceding negotiations with the US as something from a 'mafia movie.' 'The European Union's aid is approaching the volume of US aid. If Ukraine hands over all its mineral wealth to the US, Ukraine will have nothing to repay the aid given by European states,' Danko's office director Zuzana Skopcova told TASR on Saturday. It was illogical and unethical of the US to demand exclusive mining rights of Ukraine, Skopcova said, according to TASR. If Ukraine has already decided to pay for aid during the conflict with the Russian Federation, it is incomprehensible why it does not do so in relation to the EU. On Monday, Danko plans to ask Slovak Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky to tally up the sum of all financial and military assistance Bratislava provided Kiev during the Ukraine conflict, TASR wrote. The SNS wants more than €3 billion ($3.41 billion) in aid compensated in a similar manner as the US has sought, the news agency said. Under Fico, a long-time critic of EU policy regarding the Ukraine conflict, Bratislava has cut military assistance to Kiev. Last May, he survived an assassination attempt after being shot multiple times by a pro-Ukraine activist. The US has allocated some $135 billion to aid Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, data from Germany's Kiev Institute says. By comparison, the EU has dedicated around $158 billion in total military and financial aid to Kiev over the past three years, according to the European Commission. Brussels penned an agreement regarding raw materials with Ukraine in 2021. The European Parliament Think Tank has noted that the document gives the EU a stake in Ukraine's mineral wealth, like the US.
Russia Today
09-03-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Party in EU state criticizes Russia sanctions
The Slovak National Party (SNS), a member of the ruling coalition, has announced plans to introduce a parliamentary resolution rejecting further sanctions against Russia, arguing the restrictions are negatively affecting Slovakia's own economy. The party, which holds 10 out of the 150 seats in the national parliament, stated that the sanctions against Russia were negatively impacting the standard of living in Slovakia. 'Sanctions take more from us than they give,' party leader Andrej Danko has said, as cited by the local media. 'The result is rising energy prices, loss of competitiveness of our businesses, and deepening economic uncertainty.' The SNS called the restrictions ineffective, adding that the new EU sanctions package introduced in February is already pushing the prices of gas and aluminum higher. 'It is unacceptable that Slovak households and businesses bear the economic consequences of decisions that were taken without a thorough assessment of their impact on the national economy,' Danko said. 'We cannot stand idly by while someone makes decisions for us, while weakening us economically,' he added. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeatedly voiced skepticism over Western support for Ukraine, declaring that Bratislava wouldn't provide military or financial assistance to Kiev and advocating for an immediate ceasefire. Fico has also criticized Kiev's Western backers for pursuing 'peace through force,' arguing that 'Ukraine will never be strong enough to negotiate from a position of military power.' Tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine were exacerbated after Kiev declined to renew a gas transit agreement with Moscow that expired at the beginning of this year. The move significantly affected Slovakia, which remains highly dependent on Russian energy.
Russia Today
25-02-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU state should demand money back from Ukraine
Slovakia has a right to seek repayment for the aid it has provided to Ukraine if Western nations like the US, Germany, and France take similar steps, a top Slovak MP has stated. Andrej Danko, chairman of the Slovak National Party and a key figure in the ruling coalition, opined in a Facebook video on Monday that Bratislava has the right to demand repayment of its €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion) contribution. Reflecting on reports that Washington is negotiating a deal in which Ukraine could hand over 50% of its critical minerals as compensation for US aid, Danko questioned what the EU would receive in return for its assistance. The proposed agreement, reportedly granting the US extensive rights to Ukraine's natural resources, seeks to offset what Washington claims is $500 billion in military and economic aid to Kiev. 'And I will ask about Slovakia,' Danko stated. 'How will Slovakia return the €3.5 billion we sent there?' he questioned, stressing that the sum represents a significant amount of money for the EU nation. 'And I want to say that if the Germans, the French and Americans ask for their money back, Slovakia cannot remain silent,' the politician stated. On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kiev to mark the three-year anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, unveiling a €3.5 billion package of EU financial assistance to inject additional liquidity into the nation's strained budget. The sum is an advance payment from the EU's larger €50-billion ($54 billion) assistance fund set up in early 2024. Separately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday expressed optimism that the bloc's leaders would quickly approve new military funding for Kiev. Her proposal to extend arms deliveries into 2025 has faced resistance from some member states. Italy, Portugal, and Spain have openly opposed the plan, while France and Germany remain undecided, according to Politico. The proposed package, worth €10 billion, is set for discussion at the March 6 EU summit and includes weapons, ammunition, air defense systems, and expanded military training for Ukrainian forces. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has previously criticized the EU's approach, arguing that Brussels has effectively 'banned' the word 'peace' from discussions about Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly warned against Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only prolong the conflict without altering the outcome, while increasing the risk of a direct Russia-NATO clash. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko has suggested that the EU could contribute to resolving the crisis by halting military and logistical support.
