Slovakia Issues Ultimatum to Ukraine Over Russian Oil Transit

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened Ukraine with consequences if the transit of Russian oil from Lukoil is not restored.

“If the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine is not restored soon, Slovnaft will cease supplying diesel fuel to Ukraine, which accounts for a tenth of Ukrainian consumption,” he said in a video address on Monday, July 29. “If the EU wants to reduce its total dependence on the USA, will need to consider forms of cooperation with the Russian Federation that involve strategic raw materials,” said the Slovak Prime Minister.

As reported by TASR, Fico informed the Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia, Myroslav Kaspran, about this.

“I told [the ambassador] that we stand by the measures and statements we have made. Further implementation of this senseless sanction [the suspension of supplies oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine] will only harm Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary. And Russia will be virtually unaffected,” he said.

Fico noted that on Friday he offered Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal a “technical solution” for restoring the transit of Lukoil's Russian oil through Ukrainian territory. While the Slovak Prime Minister did not provide details of his proposal, he mentioned that it should involve several countries.

“However, several countries have to participate in this. On behalf of Slovakia, I repeat that we are ready. I welcome reports which confirm that relevant commercial companies are already considering how to implement this technical solution in the shortest possible time,” said Fico.

Hungary and Slovakia were granted exemptions from the Europe-wide ban on Russian oil imports following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, Kyiv recently ordered the suspension of the transit of Lukoil’s oil products via the Druzhba pipeline.

Ukraine insists that the pipeline continues to transport the same amount of oil as before, thanks to other Russian companies. Hungary and Slovakia, on the other hand, argue that Kyiv’s decision threatens their energy security.