Slovakian Premier tells Ukraine to keep Russian oil flowing
Date
7/30/2024 5:17:20 AM
(MENAFN) Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a stark warning to Ukraine, stating that Slovakia will suspend its diesel supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv reinstates the transit of Russian crude oil through its territory. This oil, supplied by the Russian energy giant Lukoil, is critical for Central European countries, including Slovakia, which have faced disruptions following recent sanctions.
In June, Ukraine halted the pipeline transit of Russian crude oil, which had been a crucial supply line for countries like Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. These nations had been granted temporary exemptions from European Union sanctions to help them transition away from Russian oil dependency. Slovakia’s refiner, Slovnaft, is a significant supplier of diesel to Ukraine, accounting for approximately 10 percent of the country's diesel consumption.
In a video message posted on Facebook, Fico stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “If the transit of Russian crude via Ukraine is not renewed in a short time, Slovnaft will not continue supplies of diesel to Ukraine.” He emphasized the importance of resuming oil flows, highlighting that alternative oil sources are not only more expensive but may also lack compatibility with Slovnaft's refining technology.
Fico revealed that he had proposed a technical solution to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal to restore the halted oil transit. While he did not provide specifics about the proposed solution, he indicated that it would require coordination among multiple countries to be effective.
According to a report by Xinhua, Fico’s office has emphasized the critical nature of the oil supply for the Slovnaft refinery, noting that the refinery’s operations are heavily dependent on Russian crude. The suspension of oil flow, imposed by Ukraine’s sanctions on Lukoil, began on July 17. These sanctions included freezing Lukoil’s assets, restricting trade operations, and potentially halting resource transit altogether.
Fico's warning underscores the complex interplay between energy dependencies and international sanctions, as well as the broader implications for regional energy security amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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