Slovak PM Fico Criticizes EU Energy Policies as ‘Suicidal’ Amid Russia Sanctions

(SeaPRwire) –   Robert Fico has urged the bloc to lift “absurd” restrictions on buying oil and gas from Moscow

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called on the EU to remove sanctions on Russian energy exports and re-establish dialogue with Moscow, likening the bloc’s current approach to a “suicide ship.”

According to European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, oil prices in the EU have surged by 60% and gas prices by 70% since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in late February. The bloc had previously seen price increases after deciding to gradually cease Russian energy imports due to the conflict in Ukraine.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Fico criticized the EU for its “ideological blindness and incompetence” and asserted that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky was worsening the situation.

“I am not asking for anything more than a return to common sense. The entire EU, and particularly the European Commission, are starting to resemble a suicide ship concerning energy security,” Fico stated.

He urged the EU to lift “the absurd sanctions” and implement “decisive measures” to reinstate energy flows through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to the EU via Ukraine.

Ukraine, which has consistently urged Slovakia and neighboring Hungary to cease their energy imports from Russia, claimed that the pipeline had been rendered unusable by a Russian attack. Zelensky indicated last month that Ukraine would repair the Druzhba pipeline if the EU prevented Hungary and Slovakia from blocking a $104 billion loan to Kyiv.

Earlier this week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban cautioned that the bloc could experience “one of the most severe economic crises in its history” if sanctions on Russian energy are not lifted.

However, the bloc’s energy commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, dismissed the possibility of easing restrictions, despite issuing a warning on Friday about a potential “long-lasting” energy shock that might necessitate fuel rationing for member states.