Oct 10, 2025
Slovakia's Fico cautions against prohibiting Russian nuclear activities.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Tuesday at a conference in Bratislava that an EU ban on Russian nuclear fuel would pose "the biggest danger" and a direct threat to Europe's energy security. He also announced the approval of a deal to construct an American reactor.
Countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, and Hungary generate electricity using Russian-designed nuclear reactors and depend on Russia for fuel until alternative sources are fully available.
At the European Nuclear Energy Forum, Fico criticized the European Commission’s proposal to phase out Russian energy imports in response to the Ukrainian invasion and the 2022 energy crisis, known as REPowerEU.
While discussions are ongoing regarding a proposal to cease all Russian gas imports by 2028, the EU is also working on a bill to require member states to eliminate imports of Russian nuclear fuels.
Fico mentioned that Slovakia signed a nuclear energy agreement with the US in September, linked to plans for a new 1,000 megawatt reactor at the Jaslovské Bohunice plant, though details are limited.
He stated that this step would be significant not just for Slovakia but for all of Europe, particularly Central Europe.
Fico, who has maintained strong ties with Russia during its war on Ukraine, criticized the EU’s efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy. He referred to the REPowerEU plan as an “unfortunate document” and “complete nonsense,” asserting that Slovakia would “never agree” to a ban on Russian gas imports.
He argued that measures against gas and oil imports were counterproductive, expressing readiness to dispute with Brussels over what he deemed a “nonsensical ideological step.”
Fico’s views contrast with the European Commission’s belief that cutting ties to Russian energy will enhance long-term security for the continent, particularly after significant gas supply disruptions in 2022 led to a major energy price crisis.
Slovakia and Hungary are the only EU countries openly opposing the end of dependency on Russian energy. However, the decision rests neither with Fico nor Orbán.
Unlike economic sanctions requiring unanimous EU agreement, Bratislava and Budapest cannot easily block the REPowerEU legislation, despite recent developments indicating that its passage is not guaranteed.
Countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, and Hungary generate electricity using Russian-designed nuclear reactors and depend on Russia for fuel until alternative sources are fully available.
At the European Nuclear Energy Forum, Fico criticized the European Commission’s proposal to phase out Russian energy imports in response to the Ukrainian invasion and the 2022 energy crisis, known as REPowerEU.
While discussions are ongoing regarding a proposal to cease all Russian gas imports by 2028, the EU is also working on a bill to require member states to eliminate imports of Russian nuclear fuels.
Fico mentioned that Slovakia signed a nuclear energy agreement with the US in September, linked to plans for a new 1,000 megawatt reactor at the Jaslovské Bohunice plant, though details are limited.
He stated that this step would be significant not just for Slovakia but for all of Europe, particularly Central Europe.
Fico, who has maintained strong ties with Russia during its war on Ukraine, criticized the EU’s efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy. He referred to the REPowerEU plan as an “unfortunate document” and “complete nonsense,” asserting that Slovakia would “never agree” to a ban on Russian gas imports.
He argued that measures against gas and oil imports were counterproductive, expressing readiness to dispute with Brussels over what he deemed a “nonsensical ideological step.”
Fico’s views contrast with the European Commission’s belief that cutting ties to Russian energy will enhance long-term security for the continent, particularly after significant gas supply disruptions in 2022 led to a major energy price crisis.
Slovakia and Hungary are the only EU countries openly opposing the end of dependency on Russian energy. However, the decision rests neither with Fico nor Orbán.
Unlike economic sanctions requiring unanimous EU agreement, Bratislava and Budapest cannot easily block the REPowerEU legislation, despite recent developments indicating that its passage is not guaranteed.