The latest news about Ukraine blocking Russian oil flows from Lukoil to Slovakia and Hungary from Reuters posted on July 30 said that Ukraine ensures oil transportation to companies that are not subject to sanctions and is ready to resolve issues related to oil transit to Slovakia under the EU-related agreement.
The information was shared by Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak on the same day.
Deputy Minister Roman Andarak said that Ukraine is "resolved for issues that may cause trouble" when Slovakia activates a related mechanism in the EU Association Agreement.
"So far, Slovakia has not activated this mechanism," Andarak told Reuters.
The Ukrainian energy deputy added that Kiev "ensures uninterrupted oil transportation" for all companies not subject to Western and Ukrainian sanctions.
Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak said that other Russian oil suppliers have not had any interruption in delivering oil through Ukraine and Ukraine is still a reliable partner of the EU in oil transit services.
On July 29, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that the country would stop supplying diesel to Ukraine if Kiev did not restore Russian oil flow via the Lukoil pipeline in Ukraine.
According to TASS, in a message on July 29, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized that Kiev's blockade of oil supplies from Russian producer Lukoil would harm Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary and not affect Russia's interests.
"If Russian oil supplies via Ukraine are resumed as soon as possible, Slovnaft (one of the largest refineries in Central Europe, located in Bratislava) will stop supplying refined oil, which meets 1/10 of Ukraine's demand," the Slovakian Prime Minister warned.
Mr. Fico said he had "repeatedly spoken by phone" with his Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmygal about the situation of Ukraine's closure of the Russian oil pipeline valve and had met with the Ukrainian Ambassador in Bratislava to discuss. Bratislava is paying the highest attention to this issue and emphasizing the restoration of Russian oil supply.
In late June, Ukraine imposed sanctions on Lukoil - one of Russia's largest oil companies - to ban it from operating in Ukraine and to prevent Russian oil supplied by the company from being transported via pipelines in Ukraine to refineries in Slovakia and Hungary.
Slovakia, along with Hungary, has increased pressure after Ukraine imposed sanctions on Lukoil.
Currently, both Slovakia and Hungary supply about 10% of Ukraine's diesel consumption. Ukrainian analysts say Kiev could be covered from other sources.
