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Slovakia Resumes Energy Talks with Russia Amid EU-NATO Tensions
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Resumption of Slovak-Russian Energy Talks
On Oct 21, the Slovak Foreign Ministry announced that the inter-governmental commission for economic, science and technical cooperation will meet in Moscow on Oct 26. The session will be the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and will focus on energy—including nuclear fuel—as well as agriculture, environment, sport and culture. Slovakia, which still purchases Russian oil and gas, is scheduled to end those gas purchases by late 2027 under an EU plan aimed at cutting Russia’s war financing.
Context of EU Sanctions and NATO Alignment
Prime Minister Robert Fico, serving a fourth term, has repeatedly travelled to Moscow, most recently in May, and has publicly criticised EU sanctions on Russia. He has blamed Ukraine for an earlier interruption in oil supplies to Slovakia, a claim Kyiv attributes to Russian attacks. Fico has also expressed a preference for Slovak neutrality rather than continued NATO membership and has opposed sending Slovak troops to fight Russia under NATO’s collective-defence clause.
Official Statements & Responses
Western intelligence agencies, cited by the ministry, maintain that Western actions are defensive and have warned of possible Russian escalation in response to renewed engagement.
Implications for EU Unity
The planned talks signal a divergence from the broader EU and NATO stance of isolating Russia. By pursuing bilateral energy discussions, Slovakia risks creating friction with allies who view any cooperation with Moscow as undermining collective sanctions. Analysts note that the move could pressure other member states to reassess their own energy dependencies, potentially weakening the cohesion of the EU’s coordinated response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.