Lithuanian FM calls Slovakia's veto on new EU sanctions against Russia 'unacceptable'

VILNIUS - Slovakia's decision to veto the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia is unacceptable and regrettable, Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, currently in Italy, said on Thursday.

"We should say to Slovakia openly, both in the corridors and in private conversations, that this is unacceptable. These are the most fundamental, most important things," Lithuania's to diplomat said in a recorded statement provided by the ministry.

According to Budrys, the 18th package of sanctions against Russia would be real leverage on Russia, but Slovakia has now "taken it hostage".

"This is a bad practice and it cannot continue because then our most important interests get lost. The most important interest right now is to increase pressure on Russia. And for some, it seems that selfishness is their primary interest", Budrys said. "This is fundamentally an anti-EU thing. The European Union is built on solidarity, and I find it regrettable and unfortunate that some countries, Slovakia in this particular case, are undermining this principle."

As Slovakia continues to block the new package of sanctions, EU ambassadors failed to adopt a decision on them on Wednesday. As EU sanctions require unanimous consent, a veto by one country prevents the package from being adopted.

Unlike Hungary, which has consistently opposed sanctions and military aid to Ukraine, Slovakia has not previously tried to block new EU measures.

The 18th sanction package includes new restrictions on Russia's energy and banking sectors, as well as bans on transactions related to the Nord Stream gas pipeline project.

Budrys is attending a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Rome and says that international support for Ukraine's reconstruction is becoming long-term.

"These are no longer spot projects, "let's help here, let's help there, one factory or power plant is destroyed there" type of thing. We now see the start of systematic planning, which is what we have always wanted"," Budrys said.