Ukraine blocks oil flow to Russia, Hungary and Slovakia "actively" seek solutions, rely on European Commission

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on July 26 about the Russian oil issue, the government office said.

Lukoil has temporarily suspended crude oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia via pipelines in Ukraine. (Source: The Moscow Times)

Ukraine has announced sanctions against Russian energy giant Lukoil, preventing the company from transporting oil through its territory. Following Kiev's decision, Lukoil has temporarily stopped transporting crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia via pipelines in Ukraine.

Slovakia and Hungary have been affected as Russian oil flows from Lukoil through the Ukrainian pipeline.

"Prime Minister Fico proposed to his Ukrainian partners a technical solution in which several countries, including Slovakia, would have to participate," the Slovak Prime Minister's Office said.

The Slovak government office noted that alternative supplies are more expensive and may not be technologically suitable for Slovakia's Slovnaft refinery.

Intensive talks will take place at the highest level in the coming hours and days, according to Prime Minister Robert Fico's office.

* On the Hungarian side, Mr. Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said that if the situation is not resolved, there will be a fuel shortage. A solution must be found by September.

"Budapest is also looking for solutions," Mr. Gulyas shared.

The Hungarian Prime Minister's chief of staff said Ukraine needs to admit it cannot do the same with two European Union (EU) countries. He also asked the European Commission for help and is looking for ways to circumvent Ukraine's sanctions, allowing Russian oil to continue to be transported to the country.

Reuters news agency (UK) said that some EU countries still depend on Russian energy.

According to Bloomberg , Hungary and Slovakia receive one-third and more than 40% of their domestic oil imports from Lukoil, respectively.

In the Lukoil dispute, Hungary and Slovakia want the European Commission to invoke the association agreement with Ukraine. According to this agreement, Kiev cannot block the transit of Russian oil.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ukraine-chan-dong-chay-dau-nga-hungary-va-slovakia-rao-riet-tim-giai-phap-cay-nho-uy-ban-chau-au-280337.html