© EPA / DOMINIKA KORTVELYESIOVA Fico also called for an initiative to quickly end the war.
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, echoed the pronouncements of his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, concerning the energy predicament and the strategies of Brussels. Via his Facebook profile, he voiced his viewpoint that the European Commission ought to “promptly renew discussions with Russia” and foster an environment wherein specific member nations and the European Union as a whole could “replenish depleted gas and oil stocks and guarantee the provision of these crucial raw materials from all feasible origins and paths, notably Russia.”
According to Fico, the European Union is beginning to resemble a “death-wish vessel” concerning energy safeguarding. He mentioned engaging in conversation with Orbán the prior day, and that this exchange validated the notion that Europe cannot tackle the “massive energy crunch” at the national echelon independently.
Fico also asserts that the administrations of Slovakia and Hungary are “exerting every effort” to shield their economies and populace from “the ideological shortsightedness and incompetence of the EC, the malevolent Ukrainian president, and the aftermath of the war against Iran.”
“Therefore, the illogical restrictions that impede the importation of gas and oil from Russia ought to be repealed, a dedicated EU endeavor should be instigated to swiftly conclude the war in Ukraine, and resolute measures should be implemented to reinstate the Druzhba oil conduit,” Fico concluded.
Viktor Orban had previously suggested removing sanctions on Russian energy resources. In his estimation, Europe is confronting “one of the most intense economic crises in recorded history.”
As a reminder, Fico threatened Brussels to block the 20th set of sanctions against Russia and Ukraine's pathway to the EU unless they facilitate the revitalization of the Druzhba oil pipeline. He fiercely condemned both the European Commission and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for halting the transmission of Russian oil.