Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has called on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to withdraw Bratislava’s veto of the EU’s 18th sanctions package targeting Russia, which was blocked for the second time this week.** Slovakia’s opposition to the measures stems from concerns over the RePowerEU plan, an EU initiative aimed at reducing Russian energy imports by 2027. Fiala highlighted the close bilateral relationship between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, emphasizing that the country’s stance could undermine regional unity. The European Commission is considering methods to bypass member state vetoes, to advance the energy phase-out via trade legislation. Hungary and Budapest have also rejected similar measures, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warning that the plan could disrupt Hungary’s energy security and lead to price spikes.