Fico warns EU of biggest danger from Russian nuclear fuel ban
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (photo: Getty Images)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the EU ban on importing Russian nuclear fuel would become "the biggest danger" and a direct threat to Europe's energy security, according to Fico's statement cited by Euractiv.
Speaking at the European Nuclear Energy Forum, Fico criticized the European Commission's REPowerEU plan, which calls for a gradual phase-out of Russian energy resources in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the 2022 energy crisis.
The Slovak prime minister warned that the EU's plan poses "the biggest danger" to Europe's energy security and stressed that his country would never agree to such a move.
He also announced that Slovakia signed an agreement with the United States in September to build a new 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor at the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant.
According to Fico, this step will be "important not just for Slovakia, but it will be important for the whole of Europe."
Fico, who maintains close ties with Moscow, has repeatedly opposed EU efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy.
He called the REPowerEU plan an "unfortunate document" and "complete nonsense," stressing that Europe is just shooting itself by abandoning Russian gas and oil.
Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, and Hungary still depend on Russian nuclear fuel for their reactors. The European Commission is preparing legislation that will require EU member states to gradually phase out these imports.
Robert Fico, known for his pro-Russian stance, along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, opposes reducing Europe's energy dependence on Moscow.
At the same time, the final decision on REPowerEU will be made at the EU level, and Slovakia will not be able to block it on its own.
Slovakia imports Russian oil
Slovakia continues to purchase Russian oil. Despite the European Union's plans to phase out Russian energy resources completely, Bratislava has so far been in no hurry to seek alternative supply sources.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Slovakia ensure energy stability. However, Bratislava must stop purchasing Russian energy resources.
