RT reported that Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that the EU country would stop supplying diesel to Ukraine if Kiev did not restore oil transportation of Russian energy giant Lukoil through its territory.
In June, Kiev blocked a pipeline carrying Russian crude oil sold by Lukoil to Central Europe. Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are exempted from sanctions by the European Union (EU) so that countries that depend on Russian oil have more time to find alternatives.
"If the transportation of Russian crude oil through Ukraine is not restored in the short term, Slovakia's Slovnaft refinery will not continue to supply diesel to Ukraine," Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a video on Facebook on July 29, noting that Slovakia's diesel production accounts for one-ten 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 stopped crude oil flow. He did not provide any details about his proposal but said it would involve many countries.
"I welcome the information that relevant trading companies have considered implementing this technical solution in the shortest time possible," Prime Minister Fico said.
According to a previous article by Xinhua news agency, citing a source from the Prime Minister's Office Fico, restoring at least part of Russia's access to oil is extremely important for the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava, as alternative oil sources are more expensive and may not be technically compatible.
Ukraine imposed sanctions on Lukoil on June 24, including freezing assets, restricting trade and imposing "partly or completely suspending transit of resources". According to Hungarian 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 military - despite Ukraine itself receiving oil transit fees.
Ukrainian lawmaker Inna Sovsun had previously suggested to Politico that the secondary purpose of the embargo was to put pressure on Hungary.
The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has spoken out against the EU's policy of sending money and weapons to Ukraine, and also said it would block Ukraine's application to join NATO and the EU.
Ukraine's move has raised concerns about a supply shortage in Hungary, which depends on Russia for up to 70% of its oil imports, and Lukoil for half of that.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of making a "political decision" and declared a "respectful" status for those who are still buying Russian oil.
