RT reported that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that this EU country will stop supplying diesel to Ukraine if Kiev does not restore the transportation of oil from the Russian energy giant Lukoil through its territory.
In June, Kiev blocked the pipeline transporting Russian crude oil sold by Lukoil to Central Europe. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic were exempted by the European Union (EU) from sanctions to give these countries dependent on Russian oil more time to find alternatives.
"If the transportation of Russian crude oil through Ukraine is not restored shortly, Slovakia's Slovnaft refinery will not continue to supply diesel to Ukraine," Prime Minister Robert Fico declared in a Facebook video on July 29, noting that Slovakia's diesel accounts for one-tenth of Ukraine's diesel consumption.
Prime Minister Fico said that on July 26, he proposed to his Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmygal a technical solution to restore the halted crude oil flow. He did not provide any details about his proposal but said it would involve multiple countries.
"I welcome the information that the relevant commercial companies have been thinking about how to implement this technical solution as soon as possible," Prime Minister Fico declared.
According to a previous report by the Xinhua news agency, citing sources from Prime Minister Fico's office, restoring at least part of Russia's oil access is extremely important for the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava, as alternative oil sources are more expensive and may not be technologically compatible.
Ukraine imposed sanctions on Lukoil on June 24, including asset freezes, trade restrictions, and the application of a "partial or complete transit ban on resources." According to Hungary's MOL group, which also owns Slovnaft, Russian oil stopped flowing on July 17.
Officially, Kiev is seeking to deprive Moscow of oil revenue - which could be used to pay for the Russian army - although Ukraine itself is receiving oil transit fees.
Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun previously suggested to Politico that the embargo has a secondary purpose of putting pressure on Hungary.
The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has voiced opposition to the EU's policy of sending money and weapons to Ukraine and has also declared it will block Ukraine's application to join NATO and the EU.
Ukraine's move has raised concerns about supply shortages in Hungary, which relies on Russia for 70% of its oil imports, with Lukoil providing half of that amount.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of making a "political decision" and declared a "serious" situation for those still buying Russian oil.
