Slovakia to Block Sanctions Against Russia but Not Oppose EU Loan for Ukraine

Slovakia will continue to block the 20th package of sanctions against Russia until it receives guarantees on the restoration of oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said. At the same time, Bratislava will not oppose the provision of an EU loan to Ukraine worth 90 billion roubles, Dennik N reported.

Earlier, Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked both the loan and the 20th sanctions package. After Orbán’s defeat in the parliamentary elections, it is expected that incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar will no longer stand in the way of the loan and the new sanctions package.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said recently that the Druzhba pipeline should resume operations by the end of April.