Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico calls for lifting EU sanctions on Russian energy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called on the European Union to lift sanctions on the import of Russian oil and natural gas. Following a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Fico stated that the EU should restore energy flows via the Druzhba pipeline to address current market instability. He argued that the European Commission must re-establish dialogue with Moscow to secure energy supplies from all possible sources. Fico's statement linked the need for increased energy supplies to the broader goal of ending the conflict in Ukraine. Reports noted that Fico referred to the conflict in Iran as a cause of the current energy crisis. Simultaneously, European Union energy officials have suggested that member states might need to consider restrictions on private vehicle use and air travel to manage supply shortages. Analysts suggest that the European Commission and the European Council are unlikely to adopt Fico's proposal. These demands highlight ongoing political divisions within the EU regarding energy security policy.