Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told the parliament: "Stoping oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline would be a direct violation of Ukraine's Energy Charter and EU-related agreement. The suspension of Russian oil transit through Druzhba is a violation of the linkage agreement, not a punishment."
Espreso TV quoted Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as emphasizing that under current measures, Russian oil is still transported through this pipeline to European countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.
Ukraine's termination of Russian oil transit also means that affected countries will submit a petition to international arbitration to resolve the dispute and lead to a stop in financial aid from the EU, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted.
The contract for the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline is valid until 2030. According to experts, the termination of Russia's oil transit contract will pose more complex legal challenges than the gas transit agreement that expired at the end of 2024.
Mr. Volodymyr Omelchenko - energy expert at the Razumkov Center in Kiev - said that the discussions are expected to continue and the Ukrainian government is likely to need to consider legal issues more carefully.
"According to international law, war is an irresistible case. Ukraine can cancel the contract without any consequences," he said.
Ukraine is estimated to earn $150-200 million a year from transporting Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, while Russia's revenue from the deal exceeds $6 billion.
Last August, Ukraine proposed suspending Russian oil transit but quickly reaffirmed its commitment to comply with existing contracts.
