Hungary and Slovakia continue to export oil from Russia.
Bloomberg writes that countries are now using the services of the Russian oil company Tatneft instead of Lukoil, which has fallen under Ukrainian sanctions.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions banning Russia’s Lukoil from using its territory for oil transit, causing Hungary and Slovakia to lose a third of their imports.
Both countries have tried to involve the EU in the dispute with Ukraine, but the European Commission has rejected their request to force Kyiv to allow the transit of oil from Russia.
The EU was irritated by attempts by Hungary and Slovakia to protect their imports of Russian oil, Politico writes.
Budapest and Bratislava wanted to use EU rules and continue buying oil from Russia. This angered some European diplomats because other member states had rejected Russian oil. The European Commission rejected their request to force Kyiv to allow oil transit.
Many EU members have made efforts […] efforts to wean off dependence on Russian gas and oil […]because they stink of blood,” one diplomat said in July.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions that prohibit Russia’s Lukoil from using its territory for oil transit. Because of this, Hungary and Slovakia are losing a third of their imports.
Ukraine has stated that it will not lift sanctions against Lukoil.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote that he had several conversations with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. And warned him against blackmail or threats towards Ukraine. Kyiv continues to insist on the partners’ maximum refusal of Russian oil.
As a result, Ukraine and Slovakia agreed to hold another intergovernmental meeting in October.
Slovakia recently stated that it could stop diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine due to the blocking of Russian oil transit.
Source: Racurs
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